Nadal opts out of Wimbledon in favor of preparing for Olympics

Rafael Nadal, a two-time Olympic champion, has decided to skip Wimbledon this year in order to focus on the Olympics in Paris. The 38-year-old Spaniard, who won singles gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and doubles gold in Rio in 2016, will instead compete in a clay-court tournament in Bastad, Sweden to prepare for the Olympic tennis tournament which begins on July 27th. Wimbledon, where Nadal claimed victory in 2008 and 2010, kicks off on July 1st.

Despite his love for Wimbledon and the “great atmosphere” of the tournament, Nadal expressed sadness at missing it this year. He stated that Wimbledon will always hold a special place in his heart. Following his first-round exit at the French Open last month, Nadal has shifted his focus towards returning to the clay at Roland Garros for the Olympics.

Ranked 264th in the world, Nadal will team up with Carlos Alcaraz to play doubles at the Olympics. Although Nadal had previously hinted at retiring later this year, he admitted before the French Open that he could not say for certain if that would be his last appearance at the tournament. By prioritizing the Olympics and staying on clay until then, Nadal hopes to give his body the best chance to excel at the upcoming Olympic tennis event.