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Rafael Nadal will not play in Wimbledon or the Tokyo Olympics, opting for a physical and mental break instead.

Nadal, 35, said in successive social media posts Thursday that he was listening to his body in opting for rest.



Wimbledon immediately responded via Twitter: “We hope to see you next year, Rafael Nadal.”

We hope to see you next year, @RafaelNadal ??#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/1SxCgyLRLd

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 17, 2021

The 20-time Grand Slam winner credited the tight turnaround after the French Open and acknowledged recovery time is more vital at this stage of his career.

“I have decided not to participate at this year’s Championships at Wimbledon and the Olympic Games in Tokyo,” Nadal wrote. “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 goal is to prolong my career and continue to do what makes me happy,” Nadal continued, “that is to compete at the highest level and keep fighting for those professional and personal goals at he maximum level of competition. The fact that there has only been 2 weeks between RG and Wimbledon, didn’t make it easier on my body to recuperate after the always demanding clay court season. They have been two months of great effort and the decision I take is focused looking at the mid and long term.”

Nadal lost to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals at the French Open in four sets, ending his try for a 14th championship in Paris.

He has taken part in three Olympic Games and won the gold medal in singles in 2008 in Beijing. Eight years later in Rio de Janeiro, he carried Spain’s flag in the opening ceremonies.

–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)