Further doubts over Rafael Nadal’s participation in US Open as he adds Madrid Open to his schedule

Rafael Nadal may well have given a clear indication that he won’t compete in this year’s US Open after confirming he will take part in the Madrid Open.

This year’s tennis calendar has been thrown into chaos due to the coronavirus pandemic and the French Open, which was originally due to take place in May-June, will now run from September 27-October 13.

It means the clay-court Grand Slam will start only two weeks after the US Open, which kept its original slot of August 31-September 14.

However, it means players competing at Flushing Meadows will be pressed for time to prepare for the red-dirt major and some have indicated that they might skip the US Open and stay in Europe.

Nadal, who is the defending champion in both New York and Roland Garros, has previously admitted that he might sit out this year’s US Open and he has now given another hint as Madrid Open Tournament Director Feliciano Lopez has confirmed his participation.

He hablado con mi amigo @RafaelNadal y me ha confirmado su participación en Madrid el próximo mes de septiembre! ❤️ ¡Te esperamos como siempre con los brazos abiertos en la Caja Mágica! pic.twitter.com/ZWywVEQstO

— Feliciano López (@feliciano_lopez) July 7, 2020

“I talked to my friend Rafael Nadal and he has confirmed his participation in Madrid next September! We wait for you as always with open arms at Caja Mágica,” he wrote on Twitter.

The ATP Masters 1000 clay-court tournament starts on September 14, one day after the US Open final.

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