Rafael Nadal, 38, will charge into Olympic singles on Sunday after continuing fears about the fitness of his injured thigh. Fresh from winning an opening doubles match alongside Carlos Alcaraz, the Spanish tennis legend will contest the first round against Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics. Nadal has worn heavy bandaging on his right thigh throughout his matches; however, Spain’s captain, David Ferrer, said it was just a precautionary measure.
Ferrer admitted the bandage caused some discomfort but underlined its role in preventing further problems. “The issue of the bandage is cumbersome, but it is also an issue of prevention,” Ferrer said. “We will see how it evolves after the match, but the important thing is that he is ready to play.”
Nadal, who grabbed both the single gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and doubles gold medal at Rio in 2016, had previously raised questions over his participation in the singles. He had said he would make a “smartest decision” which could give him an opportunity to win a medal.
Nadal has thus far had a troubled year, competing in only seven tournaments while skipping Wimbledon due to a hip injury before his current thigh problem. Now 36, and with the added pressure of a possible second-round encounter against top seed Novak Djokovic, Nadal realizes time is running out to add to a glittering career that has seen him win 14 French Open titles.
Still a force to reckon with on court, Nadal has set his sights on an improved Olympics legacy despite many challenges.
