Rafael Nadal, currently competing at the Bastad Open, surprised everyone by announcing his decision to skip the upcoming third Grand Slam of the year. The tournament concluded recently, with Spain’s rising tennis star clinching the men’s singles title by defeating Novak Djokovic in a straight-set final. Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, explained his choice in a recent interview, stating that he believed skipping the grass-court season was the right move.
“I have a deep love for tennis,” Nadal expressed. “After Roland Garros, I realized that I only had one week to train at the level required to compete on the Tour. Therefore, I chose to continue training to gauge my body’s response, especially with the Olympics approaching. Skipping the grass season felt like the correct decision. I’m thrilled to be back playing on clay here in Bastad and eagerly anticipate returning to Roland Garros in two weeks for the Olympics.”
Nadal’s decision reflects his ongoing struggles with fitness issues in recent years. He missed nearly the entire 2023 season due to injury and announced that the 2024 season would mark his final year at the highest competitive level. Returning to action at the start of the 2024 campaign, Nadal suffered another setback during the Brisbane International, sidelining him for over two months.
His comeback just before the Barcelona Open did not yield consistent positive results. The most anticipated event, the French Open, ended in disappointment as Nadal was eliminated in the first round by Germany’s Alexander Zverev in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6, 6-3.
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