Will Rafael Nadal Play the US Open 2020 If Mutua Madrid Open Gets Canceled?

The resuming season is bringing new challenges for Rafael Nadal. Rafa currently will be perplexed. He will have to choose his tournaments carefully in the resuming season. What will his priorities be and what are the risks that he will take only he knows.

Rafael Nadal is on the list of players in the Cincinnati Open but he is most likely to skip the US hardcourt events as he has been seen practicing on clay already and has committed to the Mutua Madrid Open, which is scheduled just a day after the US Open. ends. On one hand, Nadal might have an eye on the record-equalling 20th Grand Slam, on the other hand, the fatigue could also cause an injury. Moreover, the travel restrictions and the surge in the coronavirus cases in the US makes it even tougher for Nadal to travel to New York.

Is Rafael Nadal More Susceptible to an Injury on a Hard Court?

The calendar is cramped up, 5 tournaments in 7 weeks is a lot. And Nadal over a couple of years has been carefully selecting his tournaments. Particularly because Nadal’s knee is gullible to injuries on the hardcourt – just two years ago in the 2018 US Open Nadal retired midway from his semifinal match against Juan Martin Del Potro.

He has had a lot of knee problems, especially on the hardcourt. And with the first two tournaments being on hard courts, it might be a risk going to the US after all. Plus the pandemic hasn’t settled in the US and earlier Nadal also deemed traveling to the US risky.

Read More: Rafael Nadal Set to Miss Title Defense at US Open 2020

On the other hand, there are some free points. Nadal could win the US Open and finally equal Roger Federer’s grand slam tally of 20. And, with the new ranking system, he will not lose any points but could gain quite a few at the Cincinnati Open where he did not participate last year. So maybe one eye on record and another eye on catching Novak Djokovic for the World No.1.

The recent development in Madrid could further increase an inclination towards the US Open. The Coronavirus cases in Spain have surged and so the government has advised the Madrid Open to not happen in September. This could prompt Nadal to play in the US Open as he could get some time off after the US Open where he could prepare for the French Open.

However, it is all unclear right now but it seems that Nadal will skip the US part of the resuming season but if Madrid gets canceled then it changes things. It will be interesting to see what he chooses.