Olympics, Zika Not on Tennis Stars' Radar

(ATR) Top tennis players tell Around the Rings they are not thinking ahead to the 2016 Games while playing in Rio de Janeiro this week.

Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and John Isner are in town for the 2016 Rio Open, which runs from Feb. 15-21. The third year event is the highest rated South American tournament on the Association of Tennis Professionals World Tour. The Rio Open is played at the Brazil Jockey Club just outside of the Leblon neighborhood, and it serves as an early clay court event ahead of the French Open in May.

With the Olympics less than six months away, all four professionals said it would be a dream to compete at Rio 2016, but the goal of this trip was to win the Rio Open.

"It is always special to be here in Rio. It is a great city and it is a nice event here," Nadal said to ATR. "I’m happy to be back and excited about it and hope to be ready for the action."

The 2008 gold medalist said to reporters that he "would be lying" if he was thinking about the Olympic Games, and the most important tournament on his calendar is the next one he is competing in.

"The Olympics are very far away," Nadal said to reporters. "When the Olympics arrives then I will think about them, but there are a lot of important things to focus on ahead of that."

Compatriot David Ferrer said to ATRcompeting in his third Olympics remain "one goal of the season for me," but he is in Rio to defend his 2015 Rio Open title. Ferrer acknowledged that he still needed to qualify for the Games, but that is a milestone he will focus on at a later date.

"I am only focusing in the tournament of Rio, and I hope I will be in the Olympic Games in Rio," Ferrer added."This may be my last Olympic games. If I will play it's very important for me to play a third time in the Olympic Games."

John Isner, from the United States, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, from France, admitted to ATR that the only reason they had chosen to play this tournament was to visit South America for the first time as a professional. Ferrer, Isner, Nadal, and Tsonga all participated in the Buenos Aires Open from Feb. 8-14 before going to Rio.

"I wanted to get down here and play this tournament simply because it is a big tournament and I’ve only heard unbelievable things," Isner said to ATR.

"Me coming here now has nothing to do with the Olympics six months from now. [The Rio Open] is a big tournament and it is good to see it's run very well, so as I said before I’ve only heard good things about this event. I’m happy to be here."

Tsonga added that "it is nothing really special to be here," so early out from the Games, because construction remains ongoing on Olympic venues and the 2016 Games tournament will be played on a different surface.

"I just mentioned the Olympics because the city is beautiful, and I cannot imagine how it is going to be when we will be ready," Tosnga said to ATR. "That is it for the moment. I’m focused on this tournament."

The Olympics is not the only major story capturing Rio de Janeiro, as the current Zika outbreak continues to dominate headlines. None of the four athletes interviewed said that they are taking extra precautions besides wearing bug repellent and following tournament organizers' guidelines.

Nadal went as far to say that he is "not scared" of Zika and will not alter his plans to enjoy the city despite the outbreak in the virus.

"I know the risk but I feel happy being here again," Nadal told reporters. "If it happens then it does."

Tsonga said that Zika had not crossed his mind at all, telling ATR that he will "cross my fingers and I hope it will be okay."

Ferrer downplayed the risk of Zika for himself, saying emphasizing precautions is important for women, especially pregnant women. He told reporters, "it is impossible with this weather to play with longer [clothes], so [extra precautions are] nothing special."

Isner told ATR he thought the tournament organizers were doing a good job to combat mosquitoes and protect the athletes involved.

"I haven’t noticed an issue of a lot of mosquitoes so I think we’ll be safe," Isner added. "You hear a lot about it and read a lot about it, but it is something I’m not too concerned about."

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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