Rafael Nadal makes honest Wimbledon confession after his French Open exit

Ewan West 28 May 2024 11:56 AM

Rafael Nadal waving at Wimbledon

Rafael Nadal admitted he does not think it would be “a good idea” to play at Wimbledon following his 2024 French Open defeat to Alexander Zverev.

The tennis legend feels making the transition from clay to grass, and then back to clay for the Paris Olympics, would be difficult and potentially risky given his injury issues.

Nadal was defeated 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 by world No 4 Zverev in the first round of the French Open on Monday in his first Grand Slam match since the 2023 Australian Open.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 2022 in his last appearance at the All England Club. The former world No 1 was forced to pull out ahead of his semi-final match with Nick Kyrgios due to an abdominal tear.

The 37-year-old Spaniard won Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010, while he was also a runner-up at the grass-court Grand Slam in 2006, 2007 and 2011.

The 2024 Wimbledon Championships will be held from July 1-14, while the tennis event at the 2024 Olympics will run from July 27 to August 4. The Olympics will be staged on the clay courts of Stade Roland Garros.

Speaking in his press conference after his match with Zverev at Roland Garros, Nadal was asked if he intends to play at Wimbledon.

“It looks difficult, honestly,” Nadal said. “I can’t confirm what’s going on, but it looks difficult to make the transition to grass, having the Olympics again on clay.

“I cannot confirm anything, I have to talk with the team 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 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.”

The 14-time French Open champion also spoke further about his tennis future, having left the door open to extending his career beyond 2024.

“I’m a simple guy,” the Mallorcan explained. “For me, the feeling of coming back home with the personal satisfaction to do all that’s in my hands to make things work well, give myself everything, that’s the only way I understand my life.

“That’s why I’m not saying I’m retiring today. In the end, it’s about not having the feeling in one year or one year and a half that I didn’t give myself a real chance, because [as soon as] I started to become a little healthier, I stopped.

“In terms of what’s the force driving me, I’m a simple guy, I enjoy what I do. I am passionate about sport, about competition, I like to practise, I like to play tennis.

“I’m in a different moment of my personal life too, travelling with my son and my wife. I’m enjoying these moments that will not come back.

“If I keep enjoying what I’m doing and feel that I’m competitive and healthy enough to enjoy it, I want to keep going for a while, I don’t know how long.

“I need to see. I need to give myself a little longer to see if my level is growing, how my body is holding, and then let’s make a decision.

“But give me two months to the Olympics and then let’s see if I can keep going or if I say, ‘ok guys, it’s more than enough’.”