Rafael Nadal (Photo : Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal now hopes to play at the 2016 Rio Olympics, with an appearance at Wimbledon becoming unlikely due to the latest injury he suffered.
Nadal, who was unable to finish his remarkable run at the French Open due to a left wrist injury, will likely be out for Wimbledon later this month, with the Spaniard confirming he would skip the Aegon Championships at the Queen's Club, an event considered as warm-up before players head to Church Road.
With Nadal very possible to miss another Grand Slam event, the King of Clay has shifted his goal to competing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, according to Inside Tennis magazine publisher Bill Simmons.
NADAL UPDATE: Person very close to Rafa indicates Wimbledon highly unlikely. His goal - PLAY THE OLYMPICS.
— Bill Simons (@BillSimons1) June 2, 2016
Simmons claimed on one of his tweets that his source was "reliable, dependable and extremely close to Nadal on a day to day basis."
@lizzyprose i totally agree bout gossip/My source was reliable, dependable & extremely close to nadal on a day to day basis. was news/cheers — Bill Simons (@BillSimons1) June 3, 2016
There is little information about the seriousness of Nadal's injury, but if Nadal has admitted he would rather have the injury happened last year during his regretful season, it could mean a major setback, which could last to three months, according to the Mail.
Nevertheless, it would make sense for Nadal to set a more realistic timetable for his return, although the 14-time Grand Slam winner also faces uncertainty over his participation at the quadrennial event.
According to the International Tennis Federation (ITF), tennis players must have played a minimum of three Davis Cup ties in the four-year Olympic cycle. Nadal has only played on two occasions since the London Olympics in 2012, and while he has a chance to make another Davis Cup appearance in July against Romania, his latest injury could put him in doubt for the event.
But there is a gleam of hope for fans and Spain to see Nadal compete at the grandest sporting event in the world. According to Tennis, Nadal confessed he does not need any surgery to his left wrist, giving the notion that his latest injury could heal just in time for Rio Olympics.
There is a growing sense Nadal could still come back from his latest injury like what he did in the past years. But time is ticking for Nadal and his chance to win another major title is slowly slipping away.
