Rafael Nadal believes tournaments has become fairer for players following changes made to the lucky loser rule in grand slams.
At the start of this year, the Grand Slam Board introduced a new policy where players who withdraw prior to the start of the tournament would receive 50% of the first round prize money. The other 50% would be given to the person stepping in as the lucky loser. The change was made amid concerns that some were deliberately playing in grand slams injured to claim the prize money.
“I think it is a good rule, because there is a lot of money in the slams,” Nadal said following his second round win at Roland Garros.
“For a lot of players to be inside a grand slam tournament is a big help for surviving (the tour). So I believe it’s fair.
“The tournament wins because there are no bad players or sick players playing, and for (an injured player), he deserves (some prize), because he did the right things to be there and he deserves that prize money, so they still get it.”
This year, a total of eight lucky losers has gained into into the French Open main draw. Including Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti, who drove from Barcelona to Paris to claim one of the eight spots. Officials have pledged to punish players who deliberately play whilst knowing they aren’t at full fitness. Earlier this week, Peter Gojowczyk was docked 25,000 euros (62.5% of the first round prize money) for failing to perform ‘at the required professional standard’ in the first round. The German retired from his match against Kyle Edmund after 41 minutes of play.
Nadal has first hand experience of the rule, which was implemented on the ATP Tour long before it was at grand slam level. At the Acapulco Open he withdrew from the tournament due to a right hip injury. Although he declined to take the prize money that he was entitled to.
“At the end of the day, it’s your decision. Even when you’ve retired, you can take the prize money or you cannot,” Nadal said.
“That’s the position I was in Acapulco. I retired, I was inside the draw and they asked me if I wanted the prize money.
“And I say no, because I believe it was fair enough that I don’t need that prize money so the player who was in has to win that prize money.”
At the French Open, Nadal will play Richard Gasquet in the third round on Saturday.
