The day after the announcement of his package for the US Open, Rafael Nadal explained that he would wait to see the evolution of the health situation before making his decision as to his participation or not at Roland Garros (September 27 October 11).
“I will prepare for the clay court season in Europe and when the time comes I will make my decision.” Rafael Nadal, who therefore only has the clay season to prepare after his withdrawal for the US Open, does not yet know if he will play the last two tournaments scheduled on ocher, the Masters 1000 in Rome and especially Roland -Garros.
“I am waiting for news from the calendar”
“When the time is right, we’ll see what the situation is in Europe and whether everything is under control or not,” continued the world number two at a press conference, about the Parisian Grand Slam. The doubt is just as great for the tournament in Rome (September 20-27), scheduled for the week before Roland Garros: “I do not know if I will play in Rome or not. I am awaiting news of the adapted calendar after the cancellation of Madrid and from there I will have to make decisions “.
The cancellation of the Madrid tournament, “a sensible and coherent decision” according to Nadal, leaves the Italian capital as the only preparation on clay at Roland Garros, scheduled from September 27 to October 11. The Spanish Masters 1000 was to start on the day of the US Open final in which the Mallorcan will not take part.
“The health situation does not seem to be completely under control”
He took advantage of this press conference to return to the reasons that led him to give up playing the US Open (August 31-September 13): “The health situation is the first basic problem when making my decision , it seems not to be completely under control “.
“Secondly, the schedule is complicated after several months without competition. Going from one hard court to the other, with little time and preparation is dangerous for my body and my future, Nadal added. Then it is a question of personal feeling. My heart tells me that this is not the time to make long journeys “.
The defending champion, well aware that some of his colleagues “want (at the US Open) to earn the money they need”, however forgot to notify that with the new ATP ranking calculation system, his forfeit will not lose any point. Which probably also weighed in the balance when making his decision.
