Rafael Nadal And Roger Federer Missing US Open Ends 21-Year Streak

With the current global pandemic, Rafael Nadal recently announced that he will be skipping this year’s US Open. This will make this the first time since 1999 that a Grand Slam will not include either Nadal or Roger Federer.

With the heavy implications of what the coronavirus brings, Nadal had no choice but to step down from the upcoming Grand Slam. In a social media post, Nadal reached out to his supporters by saying he will not be defending his US Open crown this year.

“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,” Nadal tweeted.

Despite the threat of COVID-19, the United States Tennis Association confirmed that the US Open would still push through by the end of August.

With the continuation of the tournament, this means that for the first time since the late 90s, Nadal or Federer will not be playing for the Grand Slam.

This also opens up a big chance for Novak Djokovic to remain dominant throughout the year. In what has been an eventful tennis calendar, the Serbian superstar remains to be in dominant form. Boasting 17 Grand Slam victories, the current world number one is very much on his way to win more titles and slowly catch up to Nadal and Federer.

While Federer leads all male athletes with 20 Grand Slams, he has been sidelined with an injury and is slated to return in 2021. This means that Nadal is on track to tying the Swiss legend as he has 19 majors won in his illustrious career.

The manner of how Nadal and Federer have dominated the tennis court throughout the years serves as a benchmark for several young players to aim for success in the professional tour. While Djokovic is still the top threat in the tennis world, this development opens more opportunities for the younger generation to step up and hoist a Grand Slam trophy.

It will be crucial to see how the upcoming US Open plays out despite the ever-evolving times. While everyone is training and hoping to breakthrough the tennis scene, everyone’s health and safety remain as the top priority.