Olympics and Wimbledon without Nadal! Fatigue is to blame

Spanish legend and 20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal will not take part in the Olympics or the third major of the season held on the London grass. The 35-year-old Spaniard is referring to his body, which will not allow him to continue the season as planned.

This year, the Spaniard exceptionally did not enjoy the title at Roland Garros, when he succumbed to Novak Djokovic in a four-hour semi-final battle.

The Serb then reached his second Paris trophy, becoming the first player in history to win every Grand Slam at least twice.

Nadal, who has won Wimbledon twice in his career, will not be making his first appearance at a Grand Slam since the 2020 US Open, where the 35-year-old Spaniard has also not entered.

He will miss Britain for the first time since 2016. It will be the fourth time since 2003 that the current world number three will not take to the grass at the All England Club.

The 2008 and 2010 champion will also be absent from the Olympics, from which he has a total of two gold medals. The first one was won by Nadal in the singles in Beijing in 2008 and the second one was won in the doubles with Marco López in Rio de Janeiro five years ago.

The Spaniard’s non-participation opens up more chances for other tennis players to challenge for an Olympic gold medal. But the question remains whether this hiatus means the end of Rafael Nadal at the Olympics.

It is true, however, that in three years time Paris will be played in the same venue as Roland Garros, so even then the 38-year-old Nadal should still have a solid chance.

Source: Livesport