Rafael Nadal, Defending U.S. Open Champ, to Skip 2020 Tournament

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Gillian Tan
Written by

Gillian Tan

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(Bloomberg) -- Rafael Nadal has decided to skip the 2020 U.S. Open.

The defending champion announced Tuesday on Twitter that he decided not to compete in this year's tournament due to concerns that “we still don't have control” over the Covid-19 virus.

“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,” wrote Nadal on Twitter.

Not all of tennis' superstars are sitting it out.

Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams are among players that have entered the U.S. Open to be held in New York, the United States Tennis Association said Tuesday.

Djokovic is one of the seven Top 10 men's players who appear on the initial main draw entry list for the tournament, which is set to be held without fans from August 31 through September 13 in the neighborhood of Flushing, New York.

The Serb, chasing his 18th Grand Slam title, may face off against the likes of other major finalists Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev as well as Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas and Germany's Alexander Zverev, who also entered the tournament.

Great Britain's Andy Murray is on the cusp as the top alternate for the event, which would be the first Grand Slam in more than two decades, or since the 1999 U.S. Open, not to feature either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal in its main draw.

Six-time US Open champion Serena Williams, who is seeking a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam title, is entered alongside defending champion Bianca Andreescu and other major winners including Simona Halep, Sofia Kenin, Naomi Osaka and Petra Kvitova.