LONDON — Tennis ace Rafael Nadal admitted on Saturday that he blundered by playing Wimbledon last year, a decision which saw him crash out in the second round and left him on the sidelines for seven months.
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The Spaniard was knocked out by Lukas Rosol, the Czech Republic player who was ranked 100 at the time, 12 months ago.
He went on to miss the Olympics and US and Australian Opens, but he has won seven titles in nine finals since his return to the tour in February.
That run was topped by his historic eighth French Open trophy earlier this month.
But the legacy of his shock exit at the All England Club last year still burns deep.
“Last year I played here because it is a tournament that I love, but I was not ready to play,” said Nadal.
“After Roland Garros, I felt that my knee was not there anymore. After here I was not able to complete in one more tournament during the rest of the season.
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“Rosol played a fantastic fifth set. He probably would beat me if I was healthy. That experience for me last year was too much.”
He has been placed in the same half of the draw as seven-time champion Roger Federer, the third seed, and Andy Murray, the second seed.
Nadal, 27, and now the holder of 12 Grand Slam titles, is only seeded five this year at Wimbledon. He starts his campaign for a third Wimbledon title today when he faces experienced Belgian, Steve Darcis.
