However, the 19-time Grand Slam champion is doubtful about returning to the pitch anytime this year.
“I hope we will be able to return this year, but I don’t think we will,” he told Spanish newspaper El Pais on Tuesday. “Unfortunately, I would like to register to be ready for 2021 – hopefully.
“I’m more worried about the Australian Open (in January) than what is happening at the end of this year. I see 2020 practically lost. I hope I can start next year, that’s what I want.”
Nadal is devoting some of his spare time to helping those in need and has worked with Spanish NBA star Pau Gasol and has joined “Red Cross Responds”, a project that aims to distribute food and assistance packages and provide support to over 1.3 million vulnerable people across the country.
Spain has become one of the European countries most affected by the pandemic, recording over 219,000 cases and 25,613 deaths.
“We are trying to bring as many people together as possible to create something beautiful,” said Nadal. “I am very grateful for everyone’s collaborative effort: athletes, artists, companies, federations, citizens.
“I am a sentimental person who is influenced by things and sees so many people suffering so much, so many people who have lost family members without even being able to say goodbye.
“In the end, being able to hug your brother or sister relieves some of your pain and imagines that they haven’t even been able to do it. You have to be positive and keep going. There is no other choice.”
Tennis returns … sort of
The world no. 143 Yannick Hanfmann defeated Dustin Brown, the tournament’s top name, in consecutive streaks to claim the title in rather unusual circumstances.
The show took place without fans and there were only three people at a time on the field: the two players and the referee. The players entered and exited through different doors and sat facing each other, so they never crossed the net.
The games were the best of three series and the series were shortened from the first to four games, with draws to three and the next point wins when the games reach the minimum.
The tournament was organized to help lower level players earn revenue during the pandemic.
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