Rafael Nadal: Unlikely to Play at Wimbledon, Targets Paris Olympics

Rafael Nadal unlikely to risk playing at Wimbledon after French Open loss due to injury concerns, focusing on Paris Olympics.

Rafael Nadal has opened up about his doubts regarding his participation in this year's Wimbledon following a string of injuries that have plagued him over the past 18 months. The Spanish tennis star suffered a surprising first-round exit at the French Open, marking the first time in his career that he was eliminated at this stage of the tournament.

Nadal, a 14-time French Open champion, has been struggling with injuries, including a hip problem that kept him out of most of the 2023 season, as well as a muscle tear that hindered his comeback earlier this year. With the Wimbledon Championships set to begin on July 1, Nadal is hesitant about making the quick transition from clay to grass courts, especially with the Olympic tennis tournament at Roland Garros starting on July 27.

The prospect of switching between surfaces in such a short period of time has raised concerns for Nadal, who has only played in five tournaments since his hip injury at the 2023 Australian Open. The two-time Wimbledon winner is uncertain about his participation in the Olympics, where he is expected to team up with Carlos Alcaraz in the doubles event.

Nadal emphasized the importance of analyzing the facts and consulting with his team before making a decision about his upcoming tournaments. He acknowledged the challenges his body has faced in recent years, describing it as a "jungle" with unexpected obstacles at every turn. Despite the difficulties, Nadal remains optimistic about his progress in recent weeks and is giving himself more time to assess his level of play and physical condition before committing to future events.

In other French Open action, seventh seed Casper Ruud secured a comfortable victory in the first round against Brazilian qualifier Felipe Meligeni Alves. Ruud, who has enjoyed success on clay courts with titles in Barcelona and Geneva, dominated the match with a straight-sets win. He now awaits the winner of the match between Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Valentin Vacherot in the next round at Roland Garros.