Spanish tennis ace Rafael Nadal on Thursday announced he is withdrawing from the upcoming Wimbledon and Tokyo Olympics due to a “demanding clay court season”. 

“I have decided not to participate at this year’s Championships at Wimbledon and the Olympic Games in Tokyo. It’s never an easy decision to take but after listening to my body and discuss it with my team I understand that it is the right decision,” the 20-time Grand Slam winner tweeted. 

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He further cited the two-week gap between the French Open and the Wimbledon was not making it “easier on my body to recuperate” after the “always demanding clay court season”.

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Nadal is currently the world’s number three male tennis player. He lost in the 2021 French Open semifinal to Novak Djokovic, the eventual champion. The match lasted for 4 hours and 11 minutes after playing four sets. 

Nadal has won the Wimbledon Championship twice in his career, in 2008 and 2010. he currently has the most number of Grand Slam titles along with Roger Federer, with 20 Grand Slams. Novak Djokovic is only one major title away from equalling their record.