AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
RAFAEL Nadal, world number three and one of the greatest tennis champions in this generation, has withdrawn from the popular Grand Slam grass tournament, the Wimbledon and the Olympics games.
Nadal, 35, the 20-time Grand Slam winner who won the Wimbledon title in 2008 and 2010, announced his shock withdrawal from the two events today, citing the need to look after his body and prolong his career.
He said the decision was not easy but after listening to his body and holding a discussion with his team, the right decision was made.
Nadal said: “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 the maximum level of competition.
“The fact that there has only been 2 weeks between RG 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 on 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 three of them and had the honor to be the flag bearer for my country.”
Nadal was defeated by world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-final of the French Open.
