Rafael Nadal left to focus on Olympic Games after wrist injury forces his withdrawal from Wimbledon
Former world No1 Rafael Nadal will now focus on returning to full fitness for the Olympic Games in August after withdrawing from Wimbledon having failed to recover from a wrist injury.
Nadal, a 14-time grand slam champion, pulled out of Roland Garros before his third-round match after failing to shake off the hand problem which had initially surfaced at last month’s Madrid Open.
The 30-year-old won gold in the singles at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing but missed London 2012 due to tendonitis in his knee. An added incentive for Nadal is that he has been selected as the Spanish flagbearer for Rio de Janeiro.
“His left wrist will continue to be immobilised for a maximum of two weeks. After that, he will start an anti-inflammatory rehabilitation and physiotherapy treatment once the cast is removed,” read a statement from Nadal’s agent Benito Perez-Barbadillo.
Two-time Wimbledon winner Nadal said: “I’m sad to announce that, after talking to my doctors and receiving the results of my latest medical revision, I won’t be able to play at Wimbledon.
“As you can all imagine, it’s a very tough decision, but the injury I suffered at Roland Garros needs time to heal.”