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Rafael Nadal, the world’s number three tennis player, says he is withdrawing from the 2021 Wimbledon and Tokyo Olympics to “prolong my career”.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner broke the news via his social media handles on Thursday.

The 35-year-old, who won the Wimbledon titles in 2008 and 2010, explained that he needs to “recuperate after a long clay-court season”.

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

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— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 17, 2021

“Hi all, I have decided not to participate at this year’s Championships at Wimbledon and the Olympic Games in Tokyo,” the Spaniard wrote.

“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, who was beaten in the French Open semi-finals, has always found it difficult transitioning from clay to grass in competitions.

“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.

“Sport prevention of any kind of excess in my body is a very important factor at this stage of my career in order to try to keep fighting for the highest level of competition and titles.

“I want to send a special message to my fans around the world, to those in the United Kingdom and Japan in particular.

“The Olympic Games always meant a lot and they were always a priority as a Sportsperson, I found the spirit that every sportsperson in the world wants to live. I personally had the chance to live three of them and had the honour to be the flag bearer for my country.”

Nadal has competed at three Olympic Games, appearing at Athens 2004 before winning singles gold at Beijing 2008 and doubles gold at Rio 2016. He withdrew from London 2012 due to an injury.

The Wimbledon main draw was scheduled to serve off on June 28, while the men’s singles first round will start on July 24.