Rafael Nadal withdraws from US Open due to Covid-19 and new schedule

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.

– Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) August 4, 2020

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Before sharply criticizing the organization of the new post-coronavirus calendar: “We know that the calendar after four months without playing is madness.” The US Open, which will start on 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 are making to ensure that tournaments are played, to date, the situation is complicated to organize,” insists Nadal.

A frantic pace castigated by Richard Gasquet

This announcement is not really a surprise, as the world number 2 had expressed his reservations on several occasions. And the direct link that loomed with the clay that is so dear to him did not help.

His uncle and former coach Toni Nadal had already warned a few weeks ago: “The schedule is unrealistic, especially for veteran players, who cannot compete for so many weeks in a row. I think that is a little ugly what ATP did. “

Already before Nadal, other players such as the Frenchman Richard Gasquet had denounced the infernal pace imposed by the new calendar. “This calendar is completely crazy. So many tournaments in such a short time, it’s grotesque”, had judged the former world number 7.

Many absent

The Mallorcan won’t be the only notable absentee at Flushing Meadows. Australian world number 1 Ashleigh Barty had already announced Thursday that she was giving up making the trip to New York, also because of the “significant risks” associated with the new coronavirus.

The Swiss Stan Wavrinka (17th in the world) is also not on the list communicated Tuesday by the organizers of the US Open. His compatriot Roger Federer (4th) will also be absent, but for another reason: re-operated on a 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 number 1 Novak Djokovic should be part of New York. His name, as well as those of six other members of the world top 10, appears well in the list of registrants. Not that of the world number 9, the French Gaël Monfils, nor of his compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

On the women’s side, apart from Barty, the entire top 10 is expected, including the defending champion, the Canadian Bianca Andreescu (6th).

Several positive cases among circuit members

But the US Open is not immune to seeing new packages arrive, as the concern is great, while the new coronavirus pandemic seems to be resuming 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, in fact, 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 charity tournament organized at the end of June in the Balkans by Djokovic, which resulted in four contaminated players: among them, the world number 1, but also the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (19th), the Croatian Borna Coric (33rd) and the Serbian Viktor Troicki (184th).

Since then, other players such as the American Frances Tiafoe and a player, whose identity was not initially disclosed. engaged in Palermo, first tournament of the circuit to resume Monday after five months of interruption, have also tested positive.

With AFP

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