Rafael Nadal pulls out of US Open due to coronavirus concerns

Defending champion Rafael Nadal will skip the US Open because of the coronavirus pandemic, putting on hold his bid to equal Roger Federer’s men’s record for Grand Slam titles.

The 34-year-old 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 explained his decision in a series of tweets sent in Spanish and English on Tuesday.

‘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 current No.1-ranked woman, Ash Barty, already had announced she would be missing the US Open. The US Tennis Association’s entry list announcements 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.

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Tras pensarlo mucho he decidido no participar en el US Open de este año. La situación sanitaria sigue muy complicada en todo el mundo con casos de COVID-19 y rebrotes que parecen fuera de control. Sabemos que el calendario de este año tras 4 meses sin jugar es una barbaridad, si bien entiendo y agradezco los esfuerzos que todas las partes están poniendo para que se jueguen torneos. Acabamos de tener la noticia de que el torneo de Madrid también ha sido anulado. A dia de hoy la situación es complicada para hacer torneos y todo mi respeto a la USTA, organizadores del US Open y a la ATP por los esfuerzos que están haciendo para que se juegue el torneo para los millones de fans que lo verán por TV o en las plataformas digitales. Esta es una decisión que no querría tomar pero en este caso sigo mi corazón para decidir que por ahora prefiero no viajar. After many thoughts I have decided not to play this year’s US Open. The situation is very complicated worldwide, the COVID-19 cases are increasing, it looks like we still don’t have control of it. We know that the reduced tennis calendar is barbaric this year after 4 months stopped with no play, I understand and thank for the efforts they are putting in to make it happen. We have just seen the announcement of Madrid not being played this year. All my respects to the USTA, the US Open organisers and the ATP for trying to put the event together for the players and the fans around the world through TV. 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.

A post shared by Rafa Nadal (@rafaelnadal) on Aug 4, 2020 at 11:12am PDT

The professional tennis tours have been on hiatus since March because of the Covid-19 outbreak, with play resuming for women on Monday in Palermo, Italy.

The first men’s event on the main tour is scheduled to be held later this month.
Nadal’s plan to skip the US 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.’

In last year’s thriller of a men’s final at Flushing Meadows, Nadal edged Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 in 4 hours, 50 minutes. That gave Nadal four titles at the US Open and a total of 19 across all the Grand Slam tournaments, just one away from Federer’s career mark.

Federer will be absent from the US Open, too, but because of two operations on his right knee this year.

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