Top-10 doubles player Bruno Soares has blasted fellow tennis players for their withdrawal from next month’s Olympic Games due to fears concerning the Zika Virus.
The upcoming Olympic Games has been handed a severe blow following the recent withdrawal of high profile players Tomas Berdych, Milos Raonic and Simona Halep. All of the players cited the potential threat of the mosquito-born Zika Virus as the reason for their withdrawal. Tennis is the latest Olympic sport to be hampered with high-profile withdrawals due to the public health concerns.
Using the Zika virus as the reason not to attend the four-year sporting extravaganza is one that has enraged Australian Open doubles champion Soares, who has labelled the players explanations as ‘weak excuses’.
“This is bothering me a little bit, because I accept and agree with those who doesn’t want to come because there’s no points, no money and there’s not a big thing at stake. There are people who doesn’t believe they have a big chance to get a medal and prefer to go after other goals, however, I think that players are making a weak excuse not to come.” He recently said about the rising number of withdrawals.
My wife asked me to do our laundry today. Not doing because of Zika. #theZikaEffect
— Bruno Soares (@BrunoSoares82) July 15, 2016
The Zika threat isn’t the only reason as to why some players are not competing in the tournament. John Isner and Bernard Tomic have chosen to skip the games due to their scheduling commitments. Meanwhile, Olympic critic Dominic Thiem has described the event as an ‘exhibition’ during an interview with globo.com. The honesty of the Austrian is one that has been praised by Soares.
“I think that Dominic Thiem is doing much better than those guys (who withdrawn). At 22-years-old, he said ‘I don’t want to go to the Olympic Games because I think it’s tourism’. We have to respect him, he can say what he wants.” The world No.8 doubles player said.
Representing your country is a duty that Soares is passionate about, calling the responsibility ‘bigger than anything’. He will play in the men’s doubles alongside Marcelo Melo. The two will be hoping to become the first Brazilian athletes in history to win an Olympic medal in tennis.
Not everybody is as enthusiastic as Soares is about the event, a viewpoint that he understands.
“I don’t see any problem in not coming, that’s a personal decision.” He said.
“The tennis calendar is heavy, some guys depend on it to get seeded in a Grand Slam draw, or to get into a Grand Slam next year. It’s absolutely understandable.”
On the other hand, the 34-year-old is unsympathetic about his fellow athletes Zika fears. The Brazilian bluntly called their worries ‘an excuse’ that is inconsistent.
“And [the argument of being afraid of getting Zika] goes so much against our country. We have, as Brazilian people, to defend it. There is a lot of shit in our country, I agree with that. But this excuse is inconsistent.” He Concluded.
How many people died from Zika? How many people died from terrorism? Don't see athletes changing schedule because of that. #theZikaEffect
— Bruno Soares (@BrunoSoares82) July 17, 2016
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has dismissed fears about the Zika virus being spread due to the Olympics. They have advised pregnant women not to travel to the event, however, there are no restrictions on anybody else. The event will take place during Brazil’s winter season, a time when mosquito levels are at their lowest.
The Olympic Games will start on August 5th with the tennis competition starting on the 6th.
Note: The translation of Soares’ quotes was provided to Ubitennis by Rafael from Break Point Brasil (http://www.breakpointbrasil.com.br)
