WASHINGTON, August 5, 2020 (by Michael Dickens)
Reigning US Open champion Rafael Nadal says he won’t defend his men’s singles title at this year’s Grand Slam event, preferring not to travel to New York during the coronavirus pandemic.
At 8:19 p.m. CEST Tuesday evening, a day after the entry deadline, the World No. 2 made it official when he wrote on Twitter:
“After many thoughts I have decided not to play this year’s US Open. The situation is very complicated worldwide, the COVID-19 cases are increasing, it looks like we still don’t have control of it.
“We know that the reduced tennis calendar is barbaric this year after 4 months stopped with no play, I understand and thank for the efforts they are putting in to make it happen. We have just seen the announcement of Madrid not being played this year.
“All my respects to the USTA, the US Open organisers and the ATP for trying to put the event together for the players and the fans around the world through TV.
“This is a decision I never wanted to take but I have decided to follow my heart this time and for the time being I rather not travel.
The 34-year-old Nadal is a four-time US Open single champion. He won last year’s title, his 19th Grand Slam singles crown, after beating Daniil Medvedev in a lengthy five-set final.
With no Nadal and already with no Roger Federer, who is recovering from knee surgery, it marks the first time since 1999 that neither will compete in the US Open. Nadal’s next chance to tie Federer’s men’s career Grand Slam record could come at next month’s French Open, which he’s won a record 12 times.
Rafael Nadal will not be defending his US Open title.
The USTA have not even mentioned him on their press release. Federer got a mention … pic.twitter.com/MSkVUqTOYD
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) August 4, 2020
Halep remains on US Open entry list
While reigning US Open men’s champion Rafael Nadal has decided forgo defending his title, World No. 2 Simona Halep is leaving her options open for playing in the US Open.
According to New York Times tennis correspondent Christopher Clarey, he suggests that she could have withdrawn now if she knew for sure she wasn’t going to come to New York. Writing on Twitter Monday: “But the final decision on whether or not she plays will be made much closer to the tournament according to her team.”
Andreescu says she’s defending her US Open title
While Rafael Nadal is a definite no and Simona Halep remains on the bubble, one player who will be in New York is 2019 US Open women’s singles champion Bianca Andreescu.
Defending champion Bianca Andreescu has entered the field for the 2020 US Open.
See you soon, @Bandreescu_! 😙🏆🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/Gzneb2fxXM
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 4, 2020
Passing shots
• According to L’Equipe’s Quentin Moynet, Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France, ranked No. 71, has entered both of the upcoming Prague Challengers and will not play in this month’s US Open. Also, Marco Cecchinato (No. 113) and Alexei Popyrin (No. 103), both Top 120 players who are good enough to make the US Open cut, are both entering European Challengers the week before the US Open.
• Sunday’s World TeamTennis broadcast on CBS drew more than half a million TV viewers for its final between the New York Empire and Chicago Smash, won by the Empire.
#WTT2020: We are thrilled to announce that the #WTTChampionship featuring @nyempiretennis‘ amazing 21-20 Supertiebreaker win over the @ChicagoSmashWTT, delivered 556,000 viewers on @CBS, the most in WTT’s history! #ThankYou!
📰 Read the full story: https://t.co/0S3wRkm3gb pic.twitter.com/NIAQnTrFUv
— World TeamTennis (@WorldTeamTennis) August 4, 2020
What they’re saying
In a recent interview with Colombian newspaper El Tiempo, 2020 Australian Open finalist Garbiñe Muguruza, 26, said she’s learned to handle defeat better as she’s grown older. “When you are young, you are more sensitive to defeat, you suffer much more. There is no secret to doing it, but it is true that during the years you begin to handle defeats much better. The years have helped me. This does not mean that losing doesn’t affect me, I just needed more days to recover.”
Experience has helped @GarbiMuguruza better process tough outcomes.
“The hardest defeats are those that occur in Grand Slams,” she told @ELTIEMPO.
“Maturity has helped me appreciate them too—in Australia this year I understood it was a special moment.”https://t.co/enidnoSltU
— TENNIS (@Tennis) August 4, 2020
Remembering Bob Ryland
Hall of Famer Arthur Ashe, the only Black man to win the US Open, Wimbledon and the Australian Open, once said in an interview, “My only dream in tennis was to become good enough to beat Bob Ryland.”
Born in 1920, Bob Ryland was the first Black professional tennis player in the United States. Just a few weeks after celebrating his 100th birthday, Ryland passed away Sunday, according to the Riverside (N.Y.) Clay Tennis Association.
Ryland was a longtime resident of New York City’s Upper West Side where he was still coaching tennis to kids in Riverside Park, Central Park and Harlem’s Frederick Johnson Playground among many city courts.
“Let’s embrace the fact that we are learning about him—those that didn’t know—and learn from the lessons that he left behind.”
Leslie Allen joins @Chanda_Rubin and @Steve_Weissman to honor the late Bob Ryland on #TCLive→https://t.co/tPoe44TDv0 pic.twitter.com/gOGk1G8CdK
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 4, 2020
“RIP Bob Ryland, a towering historical figure and a true gentleman,” wrote Sports Illustrated‘s Jon Wertheim Monday on Twitter.
RIP Bob Ryland, a towering historical figure and a true gentleman: https://t.co/dwaYEL2PKk
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) August 4, 2020
What they’re sharing on social media
Sorana Cirstea / Proud of WTA and Palermo Open …
Same feeling here🙌🏻proud of @WTA and @LadiesOpenPA for the way they got us back to play and made sure we are all safe! https://t.co/15FX7fzMG2
— Sorana Cirstea (@sorana_cirstea) August 4, 2020
Cameron Norrie / Big thanks to Jamie Murray …
Big thanks again to @jamie_murray and his team for putting on another wonderful event. These matches before a slam are invaluable. #upthedogs pic.twitter.com/WPaXhEvR3h
— Cameron Norrie (@cam_norrie) August 4, 2020
Billie Jean King / Pete Sampras is a rare champion …
Pete Sampras is a rare tennis champion who played the game we both love with grace & elegant athleticism. Steve Flink’s new biography out 9/1 titled “Pete Sampras: Greatness Revisited” delves deeply into Sampras’ character to celebrate one of the greatest to ever play. pic.twitter.com/tsMILiaKTs
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) August 4, 2020
