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Rafael Nadal would not travel to New York in current climate

Nadal  - Getty Images North America 
Nadal - Getty Images North America

Rafael Nadal has spoken for the first time about the political situation in the USA, while adding that the ongoing health crisis would put him off travelling to New York if the US Open were to be starting this week.

In any normal year, Nadal would today be preparing for a semi-final at Roland Garros. But instead he found himself considering far broader questions in a video press conference with reporters from across Europe.

“Violence and pandemics like this today create a difficult climate, a difficult atmosphere for the world,” said Nadal this morning.

“It’s important to stay calm, to respect everyone, to live together in peace. I respect every single opinion and every single thing that avoids violence because violence creates disasters.”

Having posted the black square for Blackout Tuesday on his Instagram page this week, Nadal engaged more specifically this morning with the recent debate over systemic racism.

“All the normal people and all the people who want a peaceful and good world, we are against racism, poverty, all the terrible stuff which is happening in this world more often than we would like,” said Nadal.

“When you see all these disasters on the streets, my feeling is ‘That is not the way to protest’. That’s not a good example. The situation is critical but I really believe strongly in people and I really believe that we will be able to fix the problems.

“Everything takes time. All the improvements in our story, the human story, have taken time but we are getting there in all ways. To be for everybody the same, for everybody to have the same opportunities, the same rights in terms of being protected.”

“Of course it’s not enough. Of course we have to keep working hard to make this world a better place but the situation is what it is.”

The importance of tennis has been placed in perspective by recent events, Nadal pointed out, before adding that he does not feel ready to commit himself to a transatlantic flight.

“It's not the ideal situation,” said Nadal. “Honestly if you asked me today if I want to travel today to New York to play a tennis tournament, I will say: ‘No, I will not.’

Getty Images North America  - Getty Images North America 
Getty Images North America - Getty Images North America

“In a couple of months I don't know how the current situation will improve. Hopefully it will be the right way and ensure the people who organise the event, the USTA, wants a safe event.

“Same with the French Federation, they want to celebrate the tournament if everybody is safe enough. I am confident they will make the right decisions in the right moment to be sure that if the tournament is played it's going to be under extremely safe circumstances.

“If not, in my opinion, it doesn't make sense. We need to be responsible and send a clear message to society and be a positive example on how we need to do things.

“Organising events like Grand Slams  organising events of eight events, six people or 10 people is much easier - but organising events that are going to be more than 600, 700 just people in terms of workers, players, doubles, singles, men, women, qualifiers, I don't know.

“It's a big thing, difficult, and today we need to make sure we think about the health.”