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Rafael Nadal pulls out of Tokyo Olympics and Wimbledon 2021, says focus is on prologing career

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 6/18/2021 1:22:38 PM

New Delhi, June 17 Tennis great and 20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal said on Thursday that he will be pulling out of Tokyo Games and Wimbledon 2021 in a bid to focus on taking care of his body and prolonging his career. Nadal has won Wimbledon twice in 2008 and 2010 and won the Olympic gold in men's singles tennis in 2008. Rafael Nadal, who was beaten by eventual champion Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros earlier this month, said the short gap between Roland Garros and Wimbledon, starting June 28, doesn't allow him enough time to recover. Nadal maintained that Olympic Games will always be special to him and that he had the honour of representing Spain in 3 Olympics. "Hi all, 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," Nadal said. "The goal is to prolong my career and continue to do what makes me happy, that is to compete at the highest level and keep fighting for those professional and personal goals at the maximum level of competition," he added. The Olympic Games always meant a lot and they were always a priority as a Sports person, I found the spirit that every sports person in the world wants to live. I personally had the chance to live 3 of them and had the honor to be the flag bearer for my country.“ Nadal said that his claycourt season was very demanding and it's important for him to give his body rest at this stage of his career. The 35-year-old lost only his 3rd match at French Open as his bid for a 14th Roland Garros crown came to an end in the semi-finals.