French journalist slammed by Lucas Pouille and Roger-Vasselin for calling Rafael Nadal 'pitiful' amid Indian Wells withdrawal
ATPFriday, 08 March 2024 at 20:30
The French
tennis players, Lucas Pouille and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, criticized the
statements of a journalist about Rafael Nadal. The 22-times Grand Slam champion
withdrew from Indian Wells just a day before his debut, raising doubts about
the end of his career.
The
37-year-old Spaniard only played in the Brisbane International, but
subsequently withdrew consecutively from the Australian Open, Qatar Open, and
this time won't be participating in the Tennis Paradise.
The news
had repercussions in the tennis world, and the journalist Bertrand Latour,
working for the French giant L’Equipe, insinuated that Nadal should retire soon
as he seems to be in an increasingly difficult situation: "Each day that
advances brings him closer to an end which will be pitiful and which does not
live up to his talent," Latour said on L'Equipe.
His
compatriot Edouard Roger-Vasselin responded to the journalist's comment and
expressed his displeasure with the treatment towards the former world No. 1: "Please
never associate Nadal and "pitiful" in the same sentence again,"
Roger-Vasselin wrote in X (former Twitter).
Former
world No. 10 Lucas Pouille also came to Nadal's defense and criticized the
journalist, whom he described as disrespectful: "Another great
journalist.. what a shame!! Please the @lequipe do something… how can we be so
disrespectful,"
Both
Roger-Vasselin and Pouille are competing in the Indian Wells Masters 1000. The
former begins his doubles campaign on Friday, March 8, alongside Nicolas Mahut,
while Pouille advanced from the qualifiers and is already in the second round
after defeating Daniel Altmaier in the opening match. He will now face
the 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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