Rafael Nadal has officially pulled out of the US Open, indicating that he has not been victorious in a major tournament since the 2023 Australian Open. The 22-time Grand Slam champion from Spain was initially listed as a participant in Flushing Meadows, but he clarified that this did not guarantee his presence at the event. Ultimately, he has chosen not to compete in the US Open for the second consecutive year. Instead, Nadal has revealed that his next appearance will be at the Laver Cup in mid-September.
Throughout the 2024 season, Nadal has predominantly played on clay courts. His sole Grand Slam match this year took place at Roland Garros, his preferred major event. However, the left-handed player suffered a straight-sets defeat in the first round against Alexander Zverev. Nadal even suggested that this might be his final time participating in the clay-court Grand Slam. Outside of clay, he only competed in Brisbane, his first tournament of the season. Since the first round of the 2023 Australian Open, where he defeated Jack Draper in four sets, Nadal has not won a single Grand Slam match.
Following Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal from the US Open, his fans eagerly anticipate his return at the Laver Cup. However, there is speculation as to whether this could potentially be Nadal’s last tournament. Tennis enthusiasts are reminded of the 2022 event, which marked Roger Federer’s farewell tournament. The fact that Nadal announced his withdrawal from the US Open and subsequent participation in the Laver Cup on Federer’s 43rd birthday has led some to consider the possibility of Nadal’s retirement.
Federer chose to retire at the Laver Cup due to its location in London, where he experienced the most success in his career. He secured eight Wimbledon titles, two ATP World Tour Finals, and an Olympic singles silver medal in the English capital. Given Nadal’s remarkable achievements at Roland Garros, where he has won 14 Grand Slam titles, some argue that he should have retired at the Paris Olympics. As a result, the tennis community eagerly awaits updates from Nadal in the coming month, keeping a close eye on their mobile devices for any news.
Photo from Rafael Nadal Instagram
