Rafael Nadal pulls out of Wimbledon | CNN

Rafael Nadal pulls out of Wimbledon

By Rob Hodgetts, for CNN
2 minute read
Updated 7:12 AM EDT, Tue June 14, 2016
Rafa Nadal announced he would not be taking part at Wimbledon this year after the results of a recent medical exam confirmed his wrist injury suffered at Roland Garros needs time to heal.
Rafa Nadal announced he would not be taking part at Wimbledon this year after the results of a recent medical exam confirmed his wrist injury suffered at Roland Garros needs time to heal.
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"As you can imagine it's a sad decision but the injury on my wrist at Roland Garros needs time to heal," he said on his Facebook page Thursday.
"As you can imagine it's a sad decision but the injury on my wrist at Roland Garros needs time to heal," he said on his Facebook page Thursday.
Al Bello/Getty Images/file
Nadal celebrated his first Wimbledon title in 2008, after beating Roger Federer in the longest final in tournament history. Many consider it to be the greatest match of all time. Federer has two Wimbledon titles to his name, while reaching five finals so far.
Nadal celebrated his first Wimbledon title in 2008, after beating Roger Federer in the longest final in tournament history. Many consider it to be the greatest match of all time. Federer has two Wimbledon titles to his name, while reaching five finals so far.
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Nadal has also suffered hard times at Wimbledon. Here he reacts after a point in a defeat against Belgium's Steve Darcis in the first round of Wimbledon 2013. It was his earliest grand slam exit to date.
Nadal has also suffered hard times at Wimbledon. Here he reacts after a point in a defeat against Belgium's Steve Darcis in the first round of Wimbledon 2013. It was his earliest grand slam exit to date.
BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images
Bjorn Borg (seen serving in 1974 at the SW19 tournament) is the greatest Wimbledon men's champion of the pre-graphite racket era. The added four centimeters of width introduced more power to the game, according to an Australian sports physicist, leading to more injuries. Borg won five consecutive Wimbledon titles, from 1976 to 1980.
Bjorn Borg (seen serving in 1974 at the SW19 tournament) is the greatest Wimbledon men's champion of the pre-graphite racket era. The added four centimeters of width introduced more power to the game, according to an Australian sports physicist, leading to more injuries. Borg won five consecutive Wimbledon titles, from 1976 to 1980.
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John McEnroe celebrates the first of his three Wimbledon titles after defeating Bjorn Borg in 1981. McEnroe's serve-and-volley game is nearly extinct from modern tennis due to slower courts and more powerful strokes, according to Professor Rod Cross of Sydney University.
John McEnroe celebrates the first of his three Wimbledon titles after defeating Bjorn Borg in 1981. McEnroe's serve-and-volley game is nearly extinct from modern tennis due to slower courts and more powerful strokes, according to Professor Rod Cross of Sydney University.
tony duffy/getty images/file
Jimmy Connors (right) survived as a baseline player during the rise of the serve-and-volley era. He won two Wimbledon singles titles, including a five-set victory over rival McEnroe (left) in the 1982 final.
Jimmy Connors (right) survived as a baseline player during the rise of the serve-and-volley era. He won two Wimbledon singles titles, including a five-set victory over rival McEnroe (left) in the 1982 final.
Evening Standard/Getty Images
Martina Navratilova introduced power to the women's game en route to winning a record nine Wimbledon singles titles between 1978 and 1990.
Martina Navratilova introduced power to the women's game en route to winning a record nine Wimbledon singles titles between 1978 and 1990.
Allsport UK /Allsport
Stefan Edberg thrived on grass during the serve-and-volley era. The Swede is seen celebrating after defeating Boris Becker during their Men's Singles final match at the Wimbledon in 1988. Edberg won two Wimbledon titles, while Becker claimed three.
Stefan Edberg thrived on grass during the serve-and-volley era. The Swede is seen celebrating after defeating Boris Becker during their Men's Singles final match at the Wimbledon in 1988. Edberg won two Wimbledon titles, while Becker claimed three.
Bob Martin/Getty Images/file
Becker is Wimbledon's youngest ever men's champion, winning the title in 1985 as a 17-year-old. Becker was renowned for his trademark diving volleys, which were better absorbed by the more forgiving grass courts, according to one expert.
Becker is Wimbledon's youngest ever men's champion, winning the title in 1985 as a 17-year-old. Becker was renowned for his trademark diving volleys, which were better absorbed by the more forgiving grass courts, according to one expert.
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Pete Sampras represents the last era of serve-and-volley champions. The retired American is tied with Nadal with 14 career Grand Slam victories.
Pete Sampras represents the last era of serve-and-volley champions. The retired American is tied with Nadal with 14 career Grand Slam victories.
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World No. 2 Roger Federer will be gunning for his eighth Wimbledon title, after tying Sampras's mark of seven championships in 2012.
World No. 2 Roger Federer will be gunning for his eighth Wimbledon title, after tying Sampras's mark of seven championships in 2012.
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2014 Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic (left) epitomizes the modern game, which calls for longer baseline rallies and greater stamina among players. His coach is Becker.
2014 Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic (left) epitomizes the modern game, which calls for longer baseline rallies and greater stamina among players. His coach is Becker.
GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images/file
Nadal's comeback faced another hitch after losing to Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine in round one of the Aegon Championships at Queen's Club in London on June 16, 2015.
Nadal's comeback faced another hitch after losing to Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine in round one of the Aegon Championships at Queen's Club in London on June 16, 2015.
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Nadal's win at the ATP Mercedes Cup tennis tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, on June 14, 2015 represented his first win on a grass court tournament since his Wimbledon victory in 2010.
Nadal's win at the ATP Mercedes Cup tennis tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, on June 14, 2015 represented his first win on a grass court tournament since his Wimbledon victory in 2010.
THOMAS KIENZLE/AFP/Getty Images
Rafael Nadal -- seen celebrating after his first round victory at Wimbledon 2012 -- says grass and clay surfaces are "a bit less aggressive on the body." A sports physicist has presented evidence which backs up Nadal's claim.
Rafael Nadal -- seen celebrating after his first round victory at Wimbledon 2012 -- says grass and clay surfaces are "a bit less aggressive on the body." A sports physicist has presented evidence which backs up Nadal's claim.
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Rafael Nadal and the evolution of the Wimbledon champion

Story highlights

Rafa Nadal will not play at Wimbledon this year due to a wrist injury

The former world No.1 made the decision after the results of a recent medical check-up

CNN  — 

He pulled out of the French Open and now Rafael Nadal will be missing from Wimbledon.

The 30-year-old Spaniard is still struggling with the wrist injury that forced him to withdraw in Paris.

The 14-time grand slam champion said it was “sad” but doctors advised him to rest.

“As you can all imagine, it’s a very tough decision, but the injury I suffered at Roland Garros needs time to heal,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

The injury to Nadal’s left wrist caused him to withdraw from the French Open one day after his second-round win against Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis – a landmark 200th grand slam victory.

READ: Nike stands by Sharapova despite two-year drug ban

The news came as a surprise after the record nine-time Roland Garros champion had only dropped just nine games through the opening two rounds.

The world No. 4 had been enjoying a renaissance, winning clay-court titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona in April.

france novak djokovic frech open win
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Related video Novak Djokovic wins French Open

Close to tears, he told reporters in Paris the injury surfaced at the Madrid Masters in May, but escalated at Roland Garros and he needed an injection ahead of the match against Bagnis.

“Every day was a little bit worse,” Nadal said in the French capital, calling it one of the toughest press conferences of his career.

READ: Djokovic’s ‘most beautiful moment’

Nadal won Olympic gold at Beijing in 2008 and is due to be Spain’s flag bearer at the Games in Rio in August.

But after missing out on London 2012 with a knee injury his participation in the 2016 event looks to be in doubt.

Nadal’s career has been plagued by injuries, most notably to his knees, but he also missed the 2014 U.S. Open with a right wrist problem.

Where does this leave Rafael Nadal? Have your say on CNN Sport’s Facebook page.

Employees set the last layer of clay on the Suzanne Lenglen court on May 7, 2012 at the Roland Garros tennis stadium in Paris, where the French Open tennis tournament will run from May 22 to June 10, 2012. AFP PHOTO JACQUES DEMARTHON (Photo credit should read JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP/GettyImages)
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