Wednesday, December 4, 2024

French Open 2024: Rafael Nadal prioritising Paris Olympics over Wimbledon

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Since suffering a hip injury at the 2023 Australian Open, Nadal has only played five tournaments, but has been encouraged by the way his body has stood up to the physicality of the clay-court swing.

A tough draw at the French Open, where he was unseeded for the first time, led to a straight-set defeat by German fourth seed Alexander Zverev on Monday.

“I cannot tell you if I will be [playing] or not [playing] in one month and a half [at the Olympics], because my body has been a jungle for two years,” Nadal added.

“You don’t know what to expect. I wake up one day and I found a snake biting me. Another day a tiger.

“It has been a big fight with all the things that I went through, but the dynamic has been positive in the last few weeks.”

Former world number one Nadal previously suggested 2024 would be his final season on tour, but has not closed the door on continuing if he is healthy.

“If I keep enjoying doing what I am doing and I feel myself competitive and healthy enough to enjoy, I want to keep going for a while,” he said.

“I don’t know for how long, but I am having fun.

“I need to give myself a little bit longer chance to see if my level is growing and my body is holding, and then let’s make a decision.

“Give me two months until the Olympics, and then let’s see if I am able to keep going or I say, ‘OK guys, it’s more than enough’. Let’s see.”

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