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We thought that canceling the Mutua Madrid Open could change his mind. Or that the presence on the preliminary Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 Entry List could have said something, but not, Rafael Nadal, in the end, made the most obvious decision: he will not play the US Open 2020.
The defending champion decided to renounce to the Us Open and dedicate himself to the clay court season (with the Internazionali BNL d'Italia and obviously with the Parisian Slam) without forcing the come back on hard-courts.
He will be a luxury absent in New York, along with the number two of the world Roger Federer, whose cause surgery on his right knee will presumably come back to Australian Open next year, and with Gael Monfils to close this particular circle.
The US Open entry list therefore includes Novak Djokovic, Dominic Thiem, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev, Matteo Berrettini and David Goffin, like the mainly stars of the event at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
The first alternate is Andy Murray, champion of the tournament in two thousand and twelve, who obviously should have no problems entering. The Briton was also awarded a wild card by the organizers of the Western & Southern Open of Cincinnati, this year at Flushing Meadows.
In the women's Entry List there are all the Top 10 except for the number one in the world Ashleigh Barty.
Here are Rafael Nadal's words about his absence at the upcoming US Open
"After a language of reflection, I decided not to play the US Open this year.
The situation in the world is very complicated, the cases of COVID-19 are increasing and it seems that we are not in control of the situation yet. We know that this tight schedule is brutal after four months with no games, although I understand and am grateful for the efforts they are making to make everything happen.
We have just been informed that Madrid will not be played this year. I have the utmost respect for the USTA, the organizers of the US Open and the ATP for trying to keep the event going for the players and viewers. This is a decision that I never wanted to make but I decided to follow my heart this time, and for the moment I prefer not to travel," wrote the Mallorcan on Twitter.
The Spaniard could come back for the Rome Masters 1000 at the end of September, in order to got the Roland Garros at the best of his shape.