In a move that has tennis fans and British gardeners equally puzzled, Rafael Nadal has decided to skip Wimbledon this year. The reason? Our beloved Spaniard has his eyes set on the Paris Olympics, where, surprise, surprise, the tennis matches will be played on his favorite surface: clay (CNN, June 13, 2024; USA Today, June 13, 2024; NBC, June 13, 2024).

The Paris Olympics will see tennis hosted at Roland Garros, the site of Nadal’s most glorious conquests. With a record 14 French Open titles, it’s almost like Nadal carries a piece of Roland Garros in his heart—or maybe in his clay-stained shoes (CNN, June 13, 2024; USA Today, June 13, 2024; NBC, June 13, 2024).

However, the King of Clay recently faced a disappointing first-round loss at the 2024 French Open. Alexander Zverev managed to do the unthinkable, sending Nadal home early (New York Post, June 13, 2024; NBC, June 13, 2024). To add salt to the wound, Zverev went on to finish runner-up, losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the final (USA Today, June 13, 2024; NBC, June 13, 2024).

Nadal has had his share of physical woes. 2023 was almost a write-off due to hip problems and muscle tears that left him more familiar with MRI machines than tennis courts (USA Today, June 13, 2024; New York Post, June 13, 2024; NBC, June 13, 2024). Following surgery, Nadal made his comeback at the Brisbane International in January 2024 (New York Post, June 13, 2024).

To fine-tune his skills for the Paris Olympics, Nadal will play in the Nordea Open in Bastad, Sweden—a clay court tournament where he last appeared in 2005 (NBC, June 13, 2024; CNN, June 13, 2024; USA Today, June 13, 2024; New York Post, June 13, 2024). Apparently, the Swedes kept the clay warm for him all these years.

Nadal made his Wimbledon decision public through social media, noting that this will be his last Olympic Games (CNN, June 13, 2024). Though saddened about missing the Wimbledon atmosphere and the British fans (USA Today, June 13, 2024; New York Post, June 13, 2024), he insisted that avoiding surface changes is the best strategy for his body right now (CNN, June 13, 2024; USA Today, June 13, 2024; New York Post, June 13, 2024; NBC, June 13, 2024).

Adding a bit more spice to the Olympic anticipation, Nadal confirmed he will team up with Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s doubles (CNN, June 13, 2024; USA Today, June 13, 2024; NBC, June 13, 2024). Between them, they have enough firepower to turn the clay redder than usual.

Nadal is currently the only active male player to have won Olympic gold medals in both singles and doubles (CNN, June 13, 2024; USA Today, June 13, 2024). If anyone’s going to take on the challenge of competing at his last Olympics, it’s going to be the guy who can practically grow tomatoes on clay.

In the meantime, tennis enthusiasts may find themselves whispering to the Wimbledon groundskeepers: “Could we get some clay out here, just this once?” Until that day comes, Wimbledon will have to carry on without the presence of its grass-court dreadnought, Rafael Nadal (New York Post, June 13, 2024).

So, as British fans sip their tea and adjust their monocles, they’ll have to console themselves with strawberries and cream, pondering what could have been had the courts been a bit softer and redder. But in Paris, the clay will be ready, and so will Nadal, poised to write one final chapter in his storied Olympic career.