The US Open will have to do without its reigning champion: the world No. 2 Rafael Nadal announced on Tuesday August 4 that he would not participate in the American Grand Slam this year due to uncertain health conditions and denounces the “Madness” of the new calendar.
“After careful consideration, I have decided not to participate in the US Open this year. The health situation is still very complicated around the world with cases of Covid-19 and new epidemic outbreaks which seem out of control ”, explains the Spaniard on his Twitter account. “It’s a decision that I would never have wanted to make but, this time, I follow my heart which tells me that, for the moment, I prefer not to travel”, he continues.
Before sharply criticizing the organization of the new post-coronavirus calendar: “We know that the schedule after four months without playing is madness”, launched the Spaniard, while the US Open, from August 31, and Roland-Garros, from September 27, are planned in quick succession, each preceded by a Masters 1000, in Cincinnati and Rome. “If I understand and thank everyone for the efforts they make to ensure that tournaments are played, to date, the situation is complicated to organize them”, insists Nadal.
Other player withdrawals due to the pandemic
The Mallorcan won’t be the only notable absentee at Flushing Meadows. Australian world No.1 Ashleigh Barty and Swiss Stan Wawrinka (17e) are also not on the list communicated Tuesday by the organizers of the US Open. His compatriot Roger Federer (4e) will also be absent, but for another reason: reoperated on one knee, he will not return to the circuit before 2021.
It is the first time since 1999 that neither Nadal nor Federer will not appear in the table of the American Grand Slam. On the other hand, the world No. 1, Novak Djokovic, should be part of New York. But the US Open is not immune to seeing new packages arrive, as the concern is great, while the pandemic due to the new coronavirus seems to be picking up or not slowing down in many regions of the world.
On Tuesday, the Covid-19 already got the better of the Madrid tournament, rescheduled from September 12 to 20. The world of tennis is indeed not spared by the Covid-19, with the discovery of several positive cases among the members of the circuit. The most significant case was that of the charity tournament organized at the end of June in the Balkans by Djokovic, which resulted in four infected players.
Since then, other players like the American Frances Tiafoe and a player, whose identity has not been revealed, initially engaged in Palermo, the first tournament of the circuit to resume Monday after five months of interruption, have also been tested. positive.
