Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, has decided to skip Wimbledon to prepare for the Paris Olympics. Instead, he will participate in a clay-court tournament in Bastad, Sweden, which he hasn’t played in 19 years. Nadal, who turned 38 on June 3, aims to stay on clay courts rather than switching to grass for Wimbledon and then back to clay for the Olympics.
Nadal explained that sticking to one surface is better for his body. He has been dealing with hip and abdominal injuries, including surgery in 2023, which have limited his playing schedule. Recently, Nadal was defeated in the first round of the French Open by Alexander Zverev, marking the first time he has lost consecutive matches on clay.
The tennis competition at the Summer Olympics will take place at Roland Garros, the site of the French Open, starting on July 27. Nadal has won a record 14 titles there. At the Olympics, he will play both doubles with Carlos Alcaraz and singles. Alcaraz, 21, recently won the 2024 French Open, making him the youngest man to have major championships on all three surfaces.
Nadal mentioned that transitioning to grass for Wimbledon would be challenging and not smart given his recent injuries. He has won Wimbledon twice, in 2008 and 2010, and reached the semifinals in his last three appearances, withdrawing in 2022 due to a torn abdominal muscle.
