In a sad but expected announcement, former two-time champion Rafael Nadal has stated on his Facebook account that he will not be able to participate at this year’s Wimbledon Championships as he continues to recover from his left wrist injury. It was the same problem that had forced him to withdraw right ahead of his third round match at the French Open two weeks back.
“I’m sad to announce that after talking to my doctors, and receiving the results of my last medical revision, I won’t be able to play at Wimbledon this year,” the former World No. 1 wrote.
It will also put him out of the popular pre-Wimbledon event called ‘The Boodles’ at Stoke Park which has seen a steady influx of top players every year.
It was earlier surmised that the tendon injury can take up to six weeks to heal up fully. Confirming those guesses, it has now been learnt that the 14-time Grand Slam champion’s wrist will continue to remain immobilized for a couple of weeks more after which he will seek an anti-inflammatory rehabilitation and physiotherapy based treatment.
This is the third time in his career that the Spaniard had to opt out of the grasscourt Major following withdrawals in 2004 and 2009.
Earlier at an event this week, Rafa’s uncle and coach Toni Nadal had revealed that the team is in no mood to rush the 30-year-old as that would jeopardize his chances of playing at the Rio Olympics in August. The 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medallist intends to play singles, doubles as well as mixed doubles with the newly-crowned French Open women’s singles champion Garbine Muguruza.
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