Rafael Nadal blasted the decision not to award Madrid the 2020 Olympic Games on Saturday, claiming the International Olympic Committee had not treated the Spanish capital fairly.
Tokyo won the right to host the Games after seeing off Madrid and Istanbul in votes held earlier Saturday in Buenos Aires.
But Nadal, the world No2 tennis player and a tireless campaigner for Madrid's bid, said he was shocked to see the capital, who were trying for the third time to win the Games, eliminated in the first round of voting.
"It's very hard and tiring for all of us, because the country and the city of Madrid worked a lot to have the chance so many times," said the 27-year-old. "We feel that we deserve it.
"I was disappointed because we felt that we were in a good position. All the country was very involved.
"I felt that after a lot of years working, I don't know if it's 100 per cent fair that we go out at the first qualification when our opponents haven't been in that position as many times."
Nadal's fellow Spaniard and tennis star Feliciano Lopez was disgusted with the decision to overlook Madrid in favour of Tokyo, who saw off Istanbul in the final round of voting by 60 votes to 36.
"What a disgraceful decision from the IOC, which has shown once again to have no regard for fair play and values all other interests above sport," he told Spanish daily AS.
"I would like to believe that corruption, the economic situation and Operation Puerto were all key to us losing out, but I still don't understand it.
"What about the 30 Turkish athletes who were implicated in doping? This doesn't add up. And what about the nuclear crisis of Fukushima? Every candidate had its problems."
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