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Pedro Martínez criticizes Olympic system favoring Nadal and Carreno Busta
ATPSunday, 02 June 2024 at 20:30
Spanish tennis player Pedro Martínez has criticized the ranking system that allows Rafael Nadal to participate in the Olympic Games. Currently ranked world No. 48, Martínez is the third highest-ranked Spanish player in singles, behind Carlos Alcaraz and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
The qualification system permits the top 56 ranked players to compete, with a maximum of four representatives per country. However, Martínez will not be in Paris 2024. The protected ranking rule allows players who have been off the courts for more than six months to be eligible for the tournament. This means Rafa Nadal and Pablo Carreno Busta will join Alcaraz and Davidovich as Spain's representatives.
Martínez Questions the Qualification System
Players can use their protected ranking for up to nine tournaments over a period of nine months from the first event they play, according to ATP rules. The protected ranking is determined by the player's position in the rankings during the first three months of their injury.
Nadal was out for nearly 12 months from January 2023 to January 2024 and has a protected ranking of No. 9. The 22-time Grand Slam champion has participated in five tournaments this year: Brisbane International, Barcelona Open, Madrid Open, Rome Open, and Roland Garros.
Joining the Spanish list is Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Pablo Carreno Busta. The former Canadian Open champion was out for a little over seven months and just played his first tournament at the French Open, where he lost in the first round to Mariano Navone. His protected ranking of No. 18 secures his spot in Paris if he decides to play.
Nadal at 2024 Madrid Open
“In this case, the protected ranking is an injustice because neither of us has missed the Olympic Games due to being injured, regardless of whether it is Rafa, who we all want to see in the Olympic Games, including me as a fan,” the world No. 48 said.
The use of the protected ranking also excludes Roberto Carballes Baena (No. 63), who could have been the fourth Spanish representative. “I don’t see it as entirely fair. It’s as if I get injured now and in four years I use the protected ranking in the Los Angeles Games,” Martínez added. “I think that this year I deserve to go to the Olympic Games. And not going because of a situation like this is a bit unfair. But you can’t control it and that’s it,” he added.
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