Rafael Nadal has announced that he will not be competing in this year’s Wimbledon, choosing instead to concentrate on getting ready for the upcoming Olympics in Paris. This year’s Olympics will include clay-court tennis at Roland Garros, home of record-tying 14 French Open victories for the veteran tennis player.
In his recent matches, the 38-year-old was defeated by German No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev in the first round of this year’s French Open. Now, as part of his preparations, Nadal intends to compete in the Nordea Open, an ATP 250 clay court competition, in Bastad, Sweden, from July 15–21, in order to get ready for the Olympics, which he announced will be his last.
Nadal said: “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 that I will play at the summer Olympics in Paris, my last Olympics… With this goal, we believe that the best for my body is not to change surfaces and keep playing on clay until then. It’s for this reason that I will miss playing at the Championships this year at Wimbledon,” he added.
What’s left for Nadal before his retirement?
Following his announcement, Nadal declared: “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.”
It was also reported that at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal will be paired as doubles partners. The French Open’s home court, Roland Garros, will host the clay-court tennis match.
With his gold medals from the 2008 singles and the 2016 doubles with Marc Lopez, Rafael Nadal is the only active male player to have won in both categories.
Source: CNN