The two top ranked players at this week’s Rio Open, Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer, have stated that the recent Zika Virus outbreak doesn’t concern them.
Zika Virus is a disease transmitted to humans by Mosquitoes. Symptoms could include headaches, joint pain and fever, however, in 80% of cases there are no symptoms. The disease is especially threatening to pregnant women, with numerous South American countries advising women to delay getting pregnant. Brazil has reported 1.5 million cases of the disease, prompting the involvement of the Brazilian army. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classed the outbreak as a ‘global public health emergency’.
Despite the concerns surrounding the issue, the players appear to be relaxed in this week’s Rio Open, which is hosting tournaments for both the ATP and WTA. Nine-time French Open champion Nadal has said that recent developments isn’t a worry for him.
“I’m not at all afraid,” Nadal said during a Brazilian press conference. “I go out at night, and I know there’s a risk, but I’m just happy to be back here again.
“If I get sick well then that’s just bad luck.”
“I can see for myself that people here are going about their business as if everything was okay, so things can’t be that bad.“People are going to the beach, going out for walks, having dinner in restaurants.” He later added.
World No.6 Ferrer also shared a similar viewpoint. The Spanish No.2 said during his press conference that he was assured that everything is being done by local authorities.
“We’ve been told that everything possible has been done so that there will be no mosquitoes, which is comforting,” he said.
“We’ve been wearing long trousers at night, but I’m not getting obsessed by the whole thing”.
Nadal and Ferrer will start their Rio campaign on Tuesday. Nadal’s first round opponent will be fellow countryman Pablo Carreno-Busta, a player the top seed has already beaten this year. Meanwhile, Ferrer will play wildcard entrant Nicolas Jarry.
