Rafael Nadal withdraws from Wimbledon to focus on his last Olympic Games

Rafael Nadal announced on social media that he will not compete at Wimbledon.

During my post match press conference at Roland Garros I was asked about my summer calendar and since then I have been practicing on clay. It was announced yesterday that I will play at the summer Olympics in Paris, my last Olympics.
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 13, 2024

The 22-time Grand Slam champion said he would not switch court surfaces during his training in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

“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.”

For the past 18 months, the Spaniard has battled injuries. Last June, he underwent surgery on his left hip flexor. Between 2023 and 2024, Nadal only played six tournaments before his first-round match at Roland-Garros. Nadal saw a first-round dismissal at the French Open in May by reigning Olympic men’s champion Alexander Zverev.

Despite his withdrawl from Wimbledon, Nadal announced that he would be competing at the Nordea Open in Bastad, a clay-court tournament. Nadal has competed at Bastad three times, and took home the title there in 2005. The Nordea Open begins July 15.

Nadal is a three-time Olympian and captured gold in singles in 2008 and doubles in 2016 with teammate Marc Lopez. Nadal will team up for doubles with reigning French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz. The 2024 Games will be Nadal’s final Olympics.