Rafael Nadal has announced his withdrawal from the US Open, adding to the growing list of Grand Slam tournaments he’s missed this season. This marks his third absence from a major championship this year, raising questions about his future in tennis at the age of 38. Nadal’s decision, shared on social media, comes as no surprise. While he was initially included in the official entry list for New York, this was largely a formality and did not prevent him from withdrawing before the competition begins on August 26th.
His announcement follows a disappointing performance at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where he suffered a quarterfinal loss in doubles alongside Carlos Alcaraz. This was followed by a second-round singles loss to rival Novak Djokovic, who ultimately claimed the men’s gold medal.
When asked about his potential participation in the US Open after the Olympics, Nadal hesitated before responding, “Looks like not. But I’m going to let you know soon. For me, now, I can’t give you a clear answer. I need some time, but for me, (it) looks difficult.”
While Nadal hasn’t officially announced any plans for retirement, his age and recent history of injuries—including hip surgery in 2023 and abdominal muscle issues in 2024 that have limited his playing time—suggest a possible end to his career is approaching.
Nadal is a four-time US Open champion, having won in 2010, 2013, 2017, and 2019. However, this absence marks his fourth missed hard-court tournament in the last five years, with the exception being 2022 when he lost in the fourth round to Frances Tiafoe. In 2023, he was forced to withdraw from the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open after suffering a hip injury during the Australian Open. This year, a muscle injury near his hip sustained during a warm-up event before the Australian Open led to another withdrawal. He participated in the French Open in May but lost in the first round to eventual runner-up Alexander Zverev. Nadal also skipped Wimbledon last month to avoid the transition from clay to grass before returning to clay for the Olympics.
Nadal boasts a remarkable 14 French Open titles and two each from Wimbledon and the Australian Open. His most recent Grand Slam victories came in 2022—Melbourne in January and Paris in June—surpassing Roger Federer’s then-record of 20 Grand Slam titles for a male player. Federer announced his retirement at the age of 41 at the end of the 2022 season, shortly before playing a doubles match with Nadal at the Laver Cup.
Since then, both have been overtaken by Djokovic, who has now won 24 Grand Slam titles after claiming last year’s US Open. The draw for the 2024 US Open is scheduled for August 22nd.
