Watch: Rafael Nadal unlikely to play Wimbledon ahead of Paris Olympics plans

Updated : May 28, 2024 15:02
|
AP

Rafael Nadal has all but ruled himself out of competing at Wimbledon next month.

The 37-year-old Spaniard bid an emotional au revoir to the French Open on Monday after losing in the first round to Alexander Zverev.

Nadal, a 14-time winner at Roland Garros, plans to be back in Paris for this summer's Olympic Games and has not entirely ruled out a return next year.

But he believes the quick turnaround from clay to grass and back again means he is almost certain not to return to the scene of his 2008 and 2010 Wimbledon triumphs.

"It looks difficult, honestly," he said. "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.

"So I cannot confirm anything. I need to talk with team. I need to analyse so many facts.

"But I don't think it's going to be smart after all the things that happened to my body to now make a big transition to a completely different surface and then come back immediately to clay.

"Today I feel that's not a good idea, but I can't confirm. But my feeling is even if I am booked in Wimbledon because I had to, I don't think it's a positive idea right now."

Unseeded after his long injury absence and still way below the peak of his powers, Nadal was unfortunate to run into the in-form world number four Zverev in the opening round at Roland Garros.

But Nadal gave the 27-year-old, 10 years his junior and a favourite for the title, a serious match before going down 6-3 7-6 (5) 6-3 in front of an adoring and emotional Philippe Chatrier crowd.

The Spaniard had told tournament organisers last week that he did not want a farewell ceremony as he would not "close the door" on a return to the Paris showpiece.

So Nadal's astonishing Roland Garros record now reads played 116, won 112, as Zverev added his name to Djokovic and Robin Soderling as the only players to beat him here.

Rafael Nadal

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