By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Reigning US Open champion Rafael Nadal will play Madrid, which starts the same day of the US Open final, putting his Flushing Meadows participation in doubt.
Photo credit: Mutua Madrid Open Facebook
Rafael Nadal has slid into Madrid—and may well step out of the US Open.
The second-ranked Spaniard has committed to playing the Mutua Madrid Open starting September 13th—the same day of the US Open men's final.
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The 33-year-old Nadal, who is reigning Roland Garros and US Open champion, could completely skip the American summer hard court season to focus on his beloved red clay.
"I talked to my friend @ Rafael Nadal and me has confirmed his participation in Madrid the next month of September!" Madrid tournament director Feliciano Lopez, Nadal's friend, tweeted today.
Nadal responded to Lopez's tweet confirming his commitment to Madrid.
"See you in September in Madrid," Nadal replied.
Nineteen-time Grand Slam champion Nadal faces the Herculean challenge of defending two Grand Slam titles in the same month on two different surfaces staged on two different continents.
The five-time Madrid champion is defending titles in New York, Paris and Rome—and defending semifinal points in Madrid where he fell to Stefanos Tsitsipas last year.
Nadal can equal rival Roger Federer's record of 20 major championships if he successfully defends the US Open or Roland Garros.
US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster says entry deadline for the Flushing Meadows major will be two to three weeks before the Open's August 31st start date, which means Nadal does not have to make a final decision unitl next month.
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