Third Missed Grand Slam of the Year
22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal has announced he will not play in this year’s US Open. It’s been a rough year for the 38-year-old, who missed the Australian Open with a hip injury and skipped Wimbledon in an attempt to better prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Since being injured in the 2023 Australian Open, Nadal has missed every major except this year’s French Open, where Nadal, who has won the tournament 14 times, lost in the first round to Alexander Zverev.
On Twitter, Nadal wrote: “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.” Last week, the Spaniard represented his country in the Olympics’ singles and doubles competitions. He lost in the second round to long-time rival Novak Djokovic in singles. In doubles, he paired with young phenom Carlos Alcaraz, providing a sentimental, passing-the-torch moment for Spanish tennis. The duo just missed out on the medal round, falling to Americans Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in straight sets in the quarterfinals.
Nadal is a four-time US Open Champion, having last won in 2019. He last won a Grand Slam in Paris at the French Open in 2022. Nadal said that he still plans to participate in the Laver Cup, which will take place in Berlin starting September 20.
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