Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday that he will skip Wimbledon in July to focus on preparing for the Olympic Games in Paris, where the tennis events will be held on the clay courts of Roland Garros.
Reason for Skipping Wimbledon
Nadal, a 14-time French Open champion, has struggled with injuries recently. He was defeated in the first round of this year’s French Open by Alexander Zverev. Nadal, 38, missed almost all of 2023 due to a hip problem, and his return this year was hindered by a muscle tear and other minor injuries affecting his preparation for the clay court season.
Nadal’s Statement
“During my post-match press conference at Roland Garros, I was asked about my summer calendar and since then I have been practising on clay. It was announced yesterday that I will play at the summer Olympics in Paris, my last Olympics,” Nadal said. “With this goal, we believe that the best for my body is not to change surface and keep playing on clay until then. It’s for this reason that I will miss playing at the championships this year at Wimbledon.”
Reflection on Wimbledon
Nadal expressed his disappointment at missing Wimbledon, a tournament he has won twice. “I am saddened not to be able to live this year the great atmosphere of that amazing event that will always be in my heart, and be with all the British fans that always gave me great support. I will miss you all,” he added.
Olympic Preparation and Participation
Nadal, who won an Olympic singles gold medal in 2008 and a doubles gold in 2016, plans to team up with newly-crowned French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz for the doubles event at the Olympics. To prepare, Nadal will play in the ATP 250 clay court event in Bastad, Sweden, starting on July 15.
Conclusion
Nadal’s decision to skip Wimbledon underscores his focus on ending his Olympic career on a high note by competing on his favored clay surface. The Paris Olympics will run from July 26 to August 11.
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Written By Joe Brens