The decision of playing in the upcoming Olympic Games in the wake of the Zikas Virus outbreak is proving to be a divisive topic in the tennis world.
World No.9 Tomas Berdych has become the latest athlete to express reservations about participating in Rio de Janeiro. The Czech has said that he will need to ‘really look’ at the potential threat of the mosquito-born virus before committing to the event.
“The Olympics are still on my schedule and in my plans,” he said.
“Zika is definitely something that is on my mind. I have to really look at it and think about it.
“I just need to see how all the things are going and then make the best decision for myself (nearer the time).”
Berdych wouldn’t be the first high profile tennis player to miss the Olympic Games, however, he would be one of the first to skip the event due to fears of contracting the Zika virus. Dominic Thiem, Bernard Tomic and John Isner have all opted to skip the event due to scheduling commitments.
Unlike other sports such as golf, many tennis players have pledged to complete in Rio despite the health concerns. Four-time Olympic gold medallist Serena Williams has stated that she still plans to play in the Olympics during an interview with Sky News.
“So far I’m definitely going to go to the Olympics.” Williams said.
“The US team has done a lot to protect the athletes and educate the athletes, which I think is really important.”
Regardless of the Zika threat, some of the biggest names in the world of tennis are still expected to participate. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer has all confirmed their attendance.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has played-down the Zika concerns, saying that the chances of the Virus spreading globally are ‘relatively low.’ This year’s event is expected to attract up to 500,000 foreign tourists.
The Olympic games will start on August 5th, with the tennis competitions starting on the second day. It is estimated that the games will make use of 32,000 tennis balls.
