Rafa Nadal

expressed his "maximum solidarity" with the players who are having a difficult confinement to be able to play in the Australian Open, but he also asked them to "avoid an excessive complaint about being in a room for 14 days" for what is being experienced global level with the coronavirus pandemic.

"First of all, maximum solidarity with the colleagues who are living it (the confinement in Australia) in a more unpleasant way, because being in a room for 14 days is not pleasant and I hope they have as little trouble as possible and that when they leave they will have all the possible advantages for their preparation, "Nadal said in an interview with the 'ESPN' network in Argentina.

However, the Spaniard recalled that "a very tough situation worldwide is being experienced" and that "being confined for 14 days is unpleasant but compared to what is happening in the world it is a resignation."

"Those of us who live in countries hit by this, we live sad stories every day and when things like this happen every day, I think that the excessive complaint about being 14 days in a room should try to ignore," he warned.

The world number two stressed that, despite the pandemic, tennis players may be "lucky enough to compete" and that they are "in five-star hotels and with food," and surrounded by people who take care of them and "try to do what best possible".

"I applaud all those who have a positive and understanding attitude," he said.

Nadal sees "understandable" and "totally respectable" that there is criticism that the most important players have better conditions, although he clarified that he has "a slightly different vision from other players."

"Here in Adelaide we have better conditions than most in Melbourne, but there are players there who have bigger rooms than others who cannot have contact with their coach," said the winner of 20 'greats', who in Adelaide has "four and a half hours to get out of the room."

For the manacorí, "it is a matter of ethics", although he also stressed that he had not "heard" any player who is in Melbourne complain about having "a better room" than others there or about those who are confined "without being able to train "for traveling to Australia with a positive case on his flight.

"You always look up. We all try to get the best possible performance within our possibilities and in the end we have to help each other. Some need to make all these things public to help, and others we do it in a more private way," added the Spaniard. , in what could be a message to Serbian

Novak Djokovic

and his criticized letter to the Australian Open to relax the measures somewhat.

On the other hand, facing the new season, he made it clear that he is not obsessed with being number one and that it has nothing to do with signing up for the Rotterdam tournament before the possibility of being one in March if the results are given.

"I signed up for Rotterdam because Indian Wells was canceled, not because of anything else," he admitted.

Nor is he obsessed with surpassing the Swiss

Roger Federer

in number of 'Grand Slams' after equaling him with 20 last year.

"If I had to choose (as an objective) I would say yes, but to be constantly aware of it, no. Of course I would love it and within my objectives it can be one, but my way of facing the 'grades' is always the same and not because of the fact of being one of momentarily being the one who has the most changes my motivation or adds pressure. I always compete with the maximum enthusiasm and maximum motivation, "he concluded.

HE IS NOT OBSESSED TO BE NUMBER ONE OR TO WIN HIS 21st 'BIG'

For this reason, Nadal has "always the same objectives".

"The first and foremost, to be healthy, and the second, to be happy," he commented.

"I want to have the opportunity in all tournaments to be competitive and give myself options to fight to get a good result," he stressed.

Finally, the 13-time Roland Garros winner acknowledged that one "always has to evolve to try to stay at the highest level."

"My game has been in a continuous evolution and that has allowed me to be in a privileged position at 34 and to continue competing for the things that I have competed for so many years. Everything is the result of determination and enthusiasm and having people by my side who have helped decisively in many difficult moments that I have had in the form of injuries, "he said.

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