Rafael Nadal to skip US Open, plans to return at tennis’ Laver Cup

TORONTO – Rafael Nadal has decided not to participate in the US Open later in August due to concerns about his fitness, the Spaniard said on Aug 8 while adding that his next event will be the Laver Cup in late September.

For the 22-time Grand Slam champion, who won the most recent of his four US Open titles in 2019, this marks the second consecutive year he has sat out the year’s final Major.

“Hi all, writing today to let you guys know that I have decided not to compete at this year’s US Open, a place where I have amazing memories,” the 38-year-old Nadal said in a post on X.

“I will miss those electric and special night sessions in NYC at Ashe, but I don’t think I would be able to give my 100 per cent this time. Thanks to all my US fans in particular, will miss you all and will see you another time. Best of luck to all for the always amazing US Open!”

The tournament at Flushing Meadows starts on Aug 26 and will run till Sept 8. The Spaniard added that his next event will be the Sept 20-22 Laver Cup in Berlin.

Missing out on the US Open will mark his sixth absence in the past seven Grand Slam tournaments, the lone exception being his first-round ouster at this season’s French Open.

Nadal competed at the ongoing Paris Olympics where he lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the second round of the men’s singles.

He also reached the doubles quarter-finals with compatriot and reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz. The competition was held at Roland Garros, where he has won 14 singles titles.

“Rafa is a tremendous champion and he will be missed during the 2024 US Open by the fans and all those associated with the tournament,” US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster said in a statement.

“We wish him all the best and look forward to having him back at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre.”

The former world No. 1 has fallen to 159th in the rankings after struggling for two years with injuries and against Djokovic at the Olympics suffered one of his worst losses in a 6-1, 6-4 defeat.

Nadal sat out the Australian Open in January after suffering a small muscle tear during his comeback from a long injury layoff, and in May crashed to his earliest French Open exit when he lost 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 in the first round to Alexander Zverev.

He found a bit of form afterwards, as he reached his first ATP final since 2022 in Bastad, Sweden in an ATP 250 event, but lost to Portugal’s Nuno Borges.

The Spaniard skipped Wimbledon to prepare for the Olympics, saying that his body could not manage the switch to grass and then back to clay again. REUTERS, AFP