By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
There will be no Rafael Nadal in the upcoming Wimbledon Grand Slam event set to kick off July 1, 2024, in London, England.
Nadal confirmed that he will miss the grandest grass surface tennis tournament due to his commitment to play for the Spanish national team in the upcoming Paris Olympics.
According to Nadal, a significant factor in his decision to pull out from Wimbledon was the surface adjustment he would have to make. The Paris Olympics will be played on a clay court, Nadal’s preferred surface, and joining Wimbledon might disrupt his playing conditions and preparation.
“With this goal, we believe that the best for my body is not to change surface and keep playing on clay until then,” Nadal said.
Before agreeing to suit up for Spain in the Olympics, Nadal’s last appearance was during the 2024 Roland Garros Grand Slam event, where he exited in the first round. Roland Garros is also played on a clay court, which means the transition to the same surface will be easier for Nadal’s camp.
On June 12, 2024, the Spanish Tennis Federation confirmed that Nadal is set to represent Spain and will play doubles with Carlos Alcaraz.
During the 2008 Olympics, Nadal brought pride to Spain by clinching the men’s singles title, followed by another gold in 2016 with his doubles partner Marc Lopez.
Meanwhile, the young and energetic Alcaraz is still seeking his first major achievement in the Olympics and will be making his debut in the senior division.
