Rafael Nadal is going to skip Wimbledon, as expected, and instead prepare for the Paris Olympics by entering a clay-court tournament in Bastad, Sweden, he hasn’t been to in 19 years. The 22-time Grand Slam champion, who turned 38 on June 3, said Thursday he wants to just remain on clay, rather than switching over to grass for Rafael Nadal is going to skip Wimbledon, a, then needing to go back to clay for the Summer Games.
Quick Read
- Rafael Nadal will skip Wimbledon and prepare for the Paris Olympics by entering a clay-court tournament in Bastad, Sweden, which he hasn’t attended in 19 years.
- Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, decided to stay on clay rather than switch to grass for Wimbledon and then back to clay for the Summer Games.
- Nadal stated, “We believe that the best for my body is not to change surface.”
- He has been dealing with hip and abdominal injuries over the past 1.5 years and underwent surgery in 2023, leading to a limited playing schedule.
- Nadal was defeated in the first round of the French Open by Alexander Zverev, marking the first time in his career he has lost consecutive matches on clay.
- The Summer Games’ tennis competition will be held at Roland Garros starting July 27, the same site where Nadal has won a record 14 titles.
- Nadal will compete in both singles and doubles at the Olympics, partnering with Carlos Alcaraz.
- Alcaraz, who won the French Open for his third Grand Slam title, is the youngest man to win major championships on all three surfaces.
- Nadal mentioned that transitioning to grass and then back to clay for the Olympics would not be smart for his body, given his recent injuries.
- Nadal has won two titles at Wimbledon (2008 and 2010) and was the runner-up three times.
- He reached the semifinals in his last three Wimbledon appearances but withdrew in 2022 due to a torn abdominal muscle.
- Nadal expressed his sadness at missing Wimbledon and the support of British fans, stating, “I will miss playing at the Championships this year at Wimbledon.”
- Nadal will make his fourth appearance at Bastad, a clay-court tournament starting July 15, where he won the trophy in 2005.
The Associated Press has the story:
Rafael Nadal will skip Wimbledon so he doesn’t have to switch from grass to clay for Olympics
Newslooks- (AP)
Rafael Nadal is going to skip Wimbledon, as expected, and instead prepare for the Paris Olympics by entering a clay-court tournament in Bastad, Sweden, he hasn’t been to in 19 years.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion, who turned 38 on June 3, said Thursday he wants to just remain on clay, rather than switching over to grass for Rafael Nadal is going to skip Wimbledon, a, then needing to go back to clay for the Summer Games.
“We believe that the best for my body is not to change surface,” Nadal said in a statement.
He has been dealing with hip and abdominal injuries over the past 1 1/2 years, including having surgery in 2023, and has been forced to play a limited schedule. Nadal was defeated in the first round of the French Open late last month by eventual runner-up Alexander Zverev — marking the first time in Nadal’s career he has lost consecutive matches on clay.
The Summer Games will hold the tennis competition at Roland Garros starting on July 27. That is the site of the French Open, where Nadal has won a record 14 titles.
Rafael Nadal is going to skip Wimbledon, a — and singles at the OIympics, Spanish men’s tennis captain David Ferrer said Wednesday. Alcaraz, 21, won the French Open on Sunday for his third Grand Slam title. He is the youngest man to own major championships on all three surfaces.
After his exit against Zverev in Paris, Nadal was asked about participating at Wimbledon, which runs from July 1-14.
“Looks difficult, honestly. For me, now, I can’t confirm what’s going on, but it looks difficult to make a transition to grass, having the Olympics again on clay,” he said.
“But I don’t think it’s going to be smart, after all the things that happened to my body,” Nadal continued, “(to) now make a big transition to a completely different surface and then come back immediately to clay.”
He won two titles at Wimbledon, beating Roger Federer in the 2008 final and Tomas Berdych in the 2010 final. Rafael Nadal is going to skip Wimbledon, a and exited after reaching the semifinals in each of his past three appearances, including his last trip to the All England Club, in 2022, when he withdrew from the final four because of a torn abdominal muscle.
“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,” Rafael Nadal is going to skip Wimbledon, a, “and be with all the British fans that always gave me great support. I will miss you all.”
This will be his fourth appearance at Bastad — a clay-court tournament that starts July 15 — and first since 2005. Rafael Nadal is going to skip Wimbledon, a
