Defending Champion Rafael Nadal Won’t Play US Open, Slams Schedule | Tennis News

Protecting champion Rafael Nadal mentioned Tuesday he’s going to no longer play the United States Open, mentioning issues over the coronavirus and slamming tennis’s “barbaric” revised calendar. “After many ideas I’ve determined to not play this yr’s US Open,” Nadal mentioned on Twitter. “The location could be very difficult international, the COVID-19 instances are expanding, it seems like we nonetheless wouldn’t have keep an eye on of it. “This can be a resolution I by no means sought after to take however I’ve determined to apply my center this time and in the interim I moderately no longer commute.”

The 34-year-old Spanish superstar additionally took purpose on the world tennis agenda, which has been revised following disruptions sparked by way of COVID-19 shutdowns. 

The USA Open in New York, scheduled for August 31 via September 13, can be adopted a fortnight later by way of the French Open at Roland Garros.

“We all know that the decreased tennis calendar is barbaric this yr after four months stopped and not using a play…” Nadal mentioned.

With Nadal’s long-time rival Roger Federer already dominated out of the match as he recovers from knee surgical treatment, the United States Open will mark the primary time since 1999 that neither participant has featured in the primary draw of a Grand Slam match.

Nadal, who has 19 Grand Slam victories, may have equalled Federer’s tally of 20 Slam wins in New York.

– Time table fear –

Doubts about Nadal’s willingness to play the United States Open have swirled for months as tennis grapples with a calendar that has been decimated by way of pandemic disruption.

In June, Nadal warned he would no longer imagine enjoying the US Open except he used to be happy stipulations had been “utterly secure.”

Nadal’s title used to be entered final week on the United States Open tune-up match, the ATP/WTA Western and Southern Open, which can be held in New York this yr as a substitute of Cincinnati.

Alternatively Nadal had lengthy harboured issues over the proximity of the United States Open and the swing of clay courtroom occasions scheduled via September.

Nadal’s uncle and long-time former trainer, Toni, mentioned in June that the previous international primary used to be unsure about which occasions he would play. 

“The agenda is unrealistic, particularly for veteran gamers, who can’t compete for such a lot of weeks in a row,” Toni Nadal mentioned. “I feel this can be a bit unpleasant what the ATP has achieved.”

With Nadal and Federer lacking from New York, international primary Novak Djokovic could have a golden alternative to land an 18th Grand Slam singles identify.

Djokovic used to be named on the United States Open access checklist on Tuesday which incorporated seven of the sector’s best 10 gamers.

Djokovic, a three-time US Open champion, can be joined by way of international quantity 3 Dominic Thiem, international quantity five Daniil Medvedev and sixth-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The ladies’s access checklist in the meantime comprises 13 Grand Slam champions and 9 of the sector’s best 10 gamers. 

Promoted

With Australia’s international primary Ashleigh Barty taking flight from the match final week mentioning “vital dangers” from COVID-19, the ladies’s draw can be led by way of Romania’s international quantity two Simona Halep of Romania, a two-time Grand Slam champion. 

Serena Williams could also be within the box, chasing a 7th US Open and 24th Grand Slam time total.