Nadal looking at Roland Garros despite pulling out of US Open
Rafael Nadal said yesterday he still intends to play at the French Open next month and remains hopeful it will go ahead, despite withdrawing from the US Open due to coronavirus concerns.
Nadal also insisted the US Open will not carry an asterisk without its defending men鈥檚 champion, even if he admitted that it will take place under 鈥渟pecial circumstances,鈥 with several top players expected to sit out.
The Spaniard鈥檚 withdrawal was confirmed shortly after the Madrid Masters was cancelled on Tuesday, with a rise in coronavirus cases in Europe raising doubts around other events, including the French Open, which is due to start in Paris on September 27.
Nadal, who would be going for a record-extending 13th title at Roland Garros, was asked if he thinks the tournament will go ahead. 鈥淚 trust it will yes, it is in my mind and I am preparing for it,鈥 said the 34-year-old in a briefing with international media yesterday. 鈥淏ut we have to wait for events, to see how everything evolves because it is true that in recent weeks the situation seems to have worsened a little. But my hope and my intention would be to be there if conditions allow.鈥
Nadal also explained his decision to pull out of the US Open. 鈥淢y heart says today is not the moment to take long travels without knowing exactly what can and cannot happen.
鈥淢y decision is to stay at home in Mallorca where the situation is good, it looks under control here, and to wait for future opportunities.鈥
Women鈥檚 world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty has also chosen not to compete in New York, where a depleted entry list in both the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 draws is inevitable.
Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are all still due to play.
鈥淭he tournament is still big, it鈥檚 a Grand Slam,鈥 Nadal said. 鈥淚 am not arrogant enough to say the tournament is not big because I am not playing. There will be important players.
鈥淥f course it鈥檚 a tournament under special circumstances but still a Grand Slam and the winner will feel like the winner of a Grand Slam. It鈥檚 true it will be under special circumstances with a lot of important players not travelling there.鈥
Nadal added: 鈥淢y words can have repercussions so it is difficult to say if it is the right decision or not, for some players it will be right for others not.
鈥淚 respect a lot the amount of work and positive intentions of the ATP and USTA (United States Tennis Association) to try to come back to the tour. I have taken my decision so you know my thoughts but I respect there are other players in different situations and they need to play because they have financial problems and need to earn money after a few months without income.鈥
Nadal also said lessons need to be learned after the 鈥渕istake鈥 of the ill-fated Adria Tour in June, which was organized by Djokovic and led to several players, including the Serb, testing positive for coronavirus.
鈥淚 think most of the players want the best for the world and for people. Of course there was a mistake in the tour organized in Serbia and Croatia but mistakes are normal when you face a situation you haven鈥檛 faced before,鈥 Nadal said.
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