Tennis star Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday, June 13 his withdrawal from the upcoming Wimbledon Championships, which is set to begin on July 1. This decision might signal his final farewell to the prestigious tournament, likely due to it being his presumed last year on the circuit. Nadal, a two-time Wimbledon champion (2008, 2010), revealed his decision via social media. He will prioritize competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics instead. This news follows the announcement of Nadal partnering with Carlos Alcaraz in the Olympic men's doubles for Spain. Nadal is also expected to compete in the Olympic singles event.
Rafael Nada to miss Wimbledon
Nadal explained his decision by mentioning he's been training on clay courts for several months now. Switching to Wimbledon's grass courts would disrupt his training regimen in preparation for the Olympics. For those unfamiliar with tennis, the Olympic tennis tournament will be held at the same venue as the French Open - Stade Roland Garros - which is famous for its clay surface.
“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's social media post read.
"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. 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," Nadal added.
Notably, Nadal is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, winning the singles title in 2008 and the doubles title in 2016. With the Paris Olympics looming, tennis legend Rafael Nadal has been vocal about his desire to represent Spain. This year is expected to be Nadal's final season as a professional on the ATP tour, making the Olympic appearance even more significant.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
WATCH - Anushka Sharma involved in heated argument during India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2024 clash
