By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday August 4, 2020
At the 2020 US Open, Rafael Nadal is out and Novak Djokovic is still in.
Rafael Nadal will sit out the 2020 US Open.
The Spaniard has been left off the tournament’s player entry list, joing 10 Top 100 players that have elected to skip the 2020 Open.
"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," said Nadal in a social media statement.
Nadal is the fifth man in the Open Era to not return to defend his US Open title. His absence marks the second time that he himself will not defend the title in New York. He skipped in 2014 due to a wrist injury.
The Spaniard defeated Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling five-set final to earn his 19th major title in New York last year
Novak Djokovic, Dominic Thiem and Medvedev are still on the player entry list.
This year will mark the first time since 1999 that a US Open will happen without the participation of either Nadal r Roger Federer (who is out with injury).
The women's side features 19 of the Top 20 on the entry list, with the lone exception Ashleigh Barty, who announced her withdraw due to Covid-19 concerns last week. Simona Halep, Bianca Andreescu and Naomi Osaka are all entered.