Joao Sousa has criticised the organisation of the tennis competition at the Rio Olympics after playing four matches within two days.
The world No.36 had to play back-to-back singles and doubles matches on Sunday and Monday at the newly built Olympic Tennis Centre in Rio de Janeiro. His run at the Games ended on Monday when he lost both of his matches. In the singles he lost in three sets to Juan Martin del Potro. Then in the doubles he and his partner (Gastao Elias) were knocked out by Canada’s Vasek Pospisil and Daniel Nestor.
Playing four competitive matches within two days was a tough ordeal for the Portuguese No.1, who has blasted Olympic officials.
“To be honest, I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. It is the first time it happens to me in a high level tournament, before this only in Futures.” Sousa was quoted by Agência Lusa as saying.
“I’m very disappointed because I think players deserve to have rights. Some didn’t play in consecutive days, like Gastão. There’s no reason for them to do this to us. I don’t know what’s the point.”
Sousa isn’t the only player to experience the brutal force of the Olympic schedule. Del Potro only managed to get five hours sleep on Sunday night following his late night doubles match. His Monday encounter against Sousa was the third match on centre court.
The experiences of both men are a sharp contrast to others, such as Andy Murray, who didn’t play a match yesterday. Sousa has accused the organizers of double standards.
“There’s not much we can do. They’re the ones in charge. If they ask me for a grade between 1 and 10, I’ll give them a 1. It just shouldn’t happen, they should protect us more and not only the big players.” The world No.36 said.
This year’s Olympic tennis competition takes place over nine days. Both the singles and doubles draws feature 64 players. The only exception is the mixed doubles, which feature 16 doubles teams (32 players). The Women’s gold medal match will take place on August 13th and the men’s will occur the day after.
NOTE – quotes provided by Agência Lusa and translated for Ubitennis by Tenis Portugal.
