Rafael Nadal withdraws from Wimbledon, Tokyo Olympics to ‘prolong career’-Sports News , Firstpost

Rafael Nadal waves after losing to Novak Djokovic during their semi-final match at French Open. AP

Rafael Nadal has opted against playing at Wimbledon and Tokyo Olympic Games, he announced in multiple tweets on Thursday. The Spaniard had hinted against competing on grass after losing in the semi-finals of the French Open. It was just his third defeat at Roland Garros where he’s won a record 13 titles.

In a string of tweets he wrote, “Hi all, I have decided not to participate at this year’s Championships at Wimbledon and the Olympic Games in Tokyo. It’s never an easy decision to take but after listening to my body and discuss it with my team I understand that it is the right decision.”

“The goal is to prolong my career and continue to do what makes me happy, that is to compete at the highest level and keep fighting for those professional and personal goals at he maximum level of competition.”

“The fact that there has only been 2 weeks between RG [Roland Garros] and Wimbledon, didn’t make it easier on my body to recuperate after the always demanding clay court season. They have been two months of great effort and the decision I take is focused looking at the mid and long term.”

“Sport prevention of any kind of excess in my body is a very important factor at this stage of my career in order to try to keep fighting for the highest level of competition and titles.”

“I want to send a special message to my fans around the world, to those in the United Kingdom and Japan in particular.”

“The Olympic Games always meant a lot and they were always a priority as a Sports person, I found the spirit that every sports person in the world wants to live. I personally had the chance to live 3 of them and had the honor to be the flag bearer for my country.”