Tennis-Nadal to skip U.S. Open, plans to return at Laver Cup (updated)

Tatton Asset Management

07/08/2024 22:08

(Adds details, reaction and background in paragraphs 1, 5,
7-11)
       Aug 7 (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal has decided not to
participate in the U.S. Open due to concerns about his fitness,
the Spaniard said on Wednesday while adding his next event will
be the Laver Cup in late September.
        For Nadal, who won the most recent of his four U.S. Open
titles in 2019, this marks the second consecutive year he has
sat out the year's final Grand Slam.
    "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%
this time."
    Nadal added that his next event will be the Sept. 20-22
Laver Cup in Berlin.
        The 22-times Grand Slam winner competed at the Paris
Olympics where he lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in
the second round of the singles competition and reached the
quarter-finals of the doubles with Carlos Alcaraz.
    "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," U.S. 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 Center."
  
        The 38-year-old former world number one 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 in the first round.
  
        The Spaniard skipped Wimbledon to prepare for the Paris
Olympics where the tennis event was played on the clay courts at
Roland Garros where he celebrated 14 French Open titles.    
  

 (Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Ed Osmond)
 ((frank.pingue@thomsonreuters.com; +1 (647) 480-7636;))