Nadal says he would not travel to US Open in present circumstances

TIL Desk Sports/ Ordinarily Rafael Nadal would likely be closing in on a 13th French Open title this week. Instead, he is home in Mallorca trying to make sense of a world that feels anything but normal.

Tennis is on hold until at least the start of August because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while there have been positive noises about the prospects of the US Open taking place, followed by the French Open, Nadal served a dose of reality.

Speaking via Zoom to tennis media, the day after his 34th birthday, Nadal was asked his thoughts of playing at the US Open, of which he is reigning champion.

“If you asked me today if I want to travel today to New York to play a tennis tournament, I will say: no, I will not,” the world number two told reporters. “In a couple of months, I don’t know. Hopefully yes.