Days after lifting a historic 10th French Open title, tennis star Rafael Nadal has announced that as a result of the gruelling clay-court season, he will not be playing at Queens this year.
In a Facebook post on his official page, the 15-time Slam champion wrote: “I am very sorry to say that I am not going to be able to play Queen’s next week. I am sad to make this decision because I love Queen’s, I won the tournament in 2008 and every time I reached the Wimbledon final it was after playing Queen’s.”
The indefatigable Spaniard understands that his body isn't what is used to be as he adds, “I was hoping to take some days off and then be ready, but at 31, and after a long clay court season with all of the emotions of Roland Garros, and after speaking to my team and doctors, I have decided my body needs to rest if I am going to be ready to play Wimbledon. Sorry to all the great fans in Britain and to the tournament organisers. I hope to see you at Queen’s next year.”
Nadal has enjoyed a blistering start to 2017, reaching the final of the Australian Open before really dominating the clay-court season. Winning his 10th Monte Carlo and Barcelona titles put him as the overwhelming favourite to win the big one, the French Open, and he didn't disappoint his fans as he waltzed to to the title without dropping a single set.
Queens, a high-profile Wimbledon warm-up tournament, start a week after the French Open concludes and ends just a week before the grass-court Grand Slam starts.
With his win at Roland Garros on Sunday, Nadal has climbed to second in the ATP Rankings and while the grass is not his best surface, he will certainly be a strong contender to lift the prestigious trophy.