Nadal out of the US Open

The ATP and WTA have not been active during the coronavirus pandemic, as the French Open was postponed and Wimbledon was canceled. The French Open is now expected to be played on Sept. 27 with a limited amount of fans, which would be a few weeks after the U.S. Open is expected to be played at Flushing Meadows.

As expected, some of the major stars of the tennis have been skeptical about playing during a pandemic. Last year, Rafael Nadal won the US Open in 2019, but will not be in New York to defend his title. The 33-year old Spaniard was concerned about travel to the tournament, which begins on Aug. 31.

Nadal made the announcement on Tuesday, which came after the Madrid Open, scheduled for September, was canceled due to the pandemic.

Nadal defeated Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 in four hours, 50 minutes to win the men's final last year at Flushing Meadows. That win gave Nadal 19 Grand Slam titles overall and four US Open wins. That left him one shy of Roger Federer's career record of 20 Grand Slam titles.

Unfortunately due to surgeries on his right knee, Federer will also skip the US Open.

On the women's side, they will be without the worlds No. 1-ranked player Ash Barty, who already had announced she would miss the US Open.

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