World number Two and 19 time Major Champion, Rafael Nadal yesterday took to social media to announce that he will not be defending his US Open crown. Owing to the novel Coronavirus outbreak, he voiced his concerns regarding safety and health measures. Nadal was the champion at Flushing Meadows in 2019, defeating Medvedev in a pulsating five setter. His announcement comes as the tournament organisers decided to release the entry list for the 2020 tournament.
Nadal explained his decision in a series of tweets sent in Spanish and English on Tuesday.
This is a decision I never wanted to take but I have decided to follow my heart this time and for the time being I rather not travel. pic.twitter.com/8VA0aSACVy
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) August 4, 2020
“After many thoughts, i have decided not to play this year’s US Open,” Nadal said. “The situation is very complicated worldwide, the COVID-19 cases are increasing, it looks like we still don’t have control of it,” Nadal wrote. The 34-year-old from Spain called sitting out the tournament scheduled to begin Aug. 31 in New York “a decision I never wanted to take,” but added that he would “rather not travel.”
Nadal’s plan to skip the U.S. Open came shortly after the Madrid Open, scheduled for September, was canceled because of the pandemic.
“We know that the reduced tennis calendar is barbaric this year after 4 months stopped with no play,” Nadal wrote on Twitter. “I understand and thank for the efforts they are putting in to make it happen.”
“Rafa is one of the greatest champions in our sport and we support his decision,” U.S. Open tournament director Stacey Allaster said.
The current No. 1-ranked woman, Ash Barty, already had announced she would be missing the U.S. Open. The U.S. Tennis Association’s entry list announcements Tuesday noted that 2019 women’s champion Bianca Andreescu is in the field — at least for now; players can withdraw until the start of play — but made no mention of Nadal.
Nadal’s decision means that this year’s US Open would mark the first year since 1999 where neither of the reputed pair ‘Fedal’ – Federer and Nadal are part of a grand slam. Federer due to his year long sabbatical due to injury and Nadal due to Covid-19 concerns.
