Rafael Nadal has confirmed the unfortunate news that he will not be participating in the 2024 US Open. The tennis legend had initially appeared on the entry list for the tournament, giving himself the opportunity to compete. However, during the Swedish Open and the Paris Olympics, Nadal expressed doubts about his chances of playing at Flushing Meadows. In a statement posted on his social media accounts, Nadal explained that he made the decision to withdraw because he did not believe he could give his best performance. He expressed his disappointment at missing out on the electrifying night sessions at Ashe and thanked his US fans for their support.
Nadal’s absence from the US Open this year will mark the first time since his debut in 2003 that he has not won a match at a Grand Slam tournament. The 38-year-old only played one Grand Slam match this year at the French Open, where he was defeated in the opening round. He was unable to participate in the Australian Open due to injury and chose to skip Wimbledon in order to focus on the Paris Olympics. Since his professional debut in 2001, Nadal has made 68 appearances in Grand Slam tournaments and holds an impressive record of 314-44 (88%) in these matches. He has won a total of 22 Grand Slam titles, making him the second-highest achiever in men’s tennis history.
Throughout his career, Nadal has had several remarkable seasons at Grand Slam events, winning 20 or more matches in a single season on eight occasions. His record in these seasons is as follows: 2007 (20-3), 2008 (24-2), 2010 (25-1), 2011 (23-3), 2017 (23-2), 2018 (21-3), 2019 (24-2), and 2022 (22-1). Despite his absence from the US Open, Nadal has already announced that his next tournament will be the Laver Cup, taking place in Berlin from September 20-22.
Photo from Rafael Nadal Instagram
