Gustavo Kuerten advises nervous athletes to visit Rio. The three-time French Open champion made this statement on Thursday at Roland Garros.
What prompted Kuerten's advice?
Kuerten's comment came as a response to athletes considering skipping the Rio de Janeiro Olympics due to Zika virus concerns.
Why does Kuerten think athletes should visit Rio?
He believes that spending a weekend in Brazil will change their minds about participating in the Olympics.
What about the Zika virus concerns?
Kuerten acknowledges the Zika virus as a serious issue but expects authorities to minimize the risk during the Olympics.
Kuerten was introduced as a global ambassador for the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Thursday.
What does this role entail?
As a global ambassador, Kuerten will represent and speak for the Hall, which is based in Newport, Rhode Island.
Hall CEO Todd Martin referred to Kuerten as "an old friend and nemesis of mine", having gone 2-1 against Kuerten when they were both on tour.
Kuerten won the French Open in 1997, 2000, and 2001, and called the clay-court tournament "paradise" and "sacred".
He first attended the French Open at age 15, sneaking past a gate by pretending to be a player in the field.
Kuerten joins Martina Hingis as a global ambassador for the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
The Olympics are set to take place in August, and Kuerten expects the authorities to take necessary precautions to minimize the risk of Zika virus transmission.
Kuerten's passion for tennis is still evident, and he continues to be involved in the sport as a global ambassador.
The French Open, where Kuerten was introduced as a global ambassador, is one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world.
Kuerten's advice to athletes is to experience Rio for themselves before making a decision about participating in the Olympics.
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is based in Newport, Rhode Island, and Kuerten will represent the organization as a global ambassador.
Kuerten's introduction as a global ambassador took place on Thursday at Roland Garros, where he has had significant success in his tennis career.