Defending champion Rafael Nadal will skip the US Open because of the coronavirus pandemic, putting on hold his bid to equal Roger Federer’s men’s record for Grand Slam titles. Nadal’s plan to skip the US Open came shortly after the Madrid Open, scheduled for September, was canceled because of the pandemic. “We know that the reduced tennis calendar is barbaric this year after 4 months stopped with no play,” Nadal wrote on Twitter. The last Grand Slam tournament contested without either Federer or Nadal was the 1999 US Open — four years before Nadal made his debut at one of the sport’s four most prestigious events. “I know our fans will be disappointed to not have Rafa playing this year’s Western & Southern Open and US Open,” Allaster said.

Source: Manila Times August 05, 2020 16:39 UTC