Following his triumph over Cameron Norrie at the Nordea Open, Rafael Nadal has left his supporters in suspense regarding his potential participation in this year’s US Open. This uncertainty arises from his decision to delay any pronouncements about the tournament until after the Olympic Games in Paris, where he is scheduled to compete in both the singles and doubles events alongside Carlos Alcaraz. It is noteworthy that all the action from Paris will be accessible for viewing on discovery+.
While he is listed as a participant in the upcoming Flushing Meadows major, the 22-time Grand Slam champion has not yet confirmed his plans for the tournament. Additionally, speculation has arisen regarding Nadal’s potential retirement, although he has not furnished a definite timeline for such a decision. Amidst these uncertainties, he remains focused on his upcoming appearance at the Olympics, where he aims to reclaim the men’s singles title, as well as potentially forming an exciting doubles partnership on the French clay with Carlos Alcaraz.
Although rumours have circulated that the Games could mark Nadal’s final outing as a professional player, the inclusion of his name on the US Open entry list has cast doubt on this hypothesis. Addressing the situation, Nadal stated, “I needed to book to have the chance to decide after that, that’s as simple as that. Nothing changed for me. I’m going to decide what’s going on after Olympics. By the way, I will be playing in the Laver Cup but to be clear, and to not create false expectations, I am not sure at all to be in New York or not. No decision today and the decision will not happen before the end of Olympics.”
At present, Nadal is competing at the Nordea Open in Sweden, where he progressed to the quarter-finals following a decisive victory over Cameron Norrie. When asked about the physical toll of the tournament on his body, he candidly remarked, “Since I arrive here I have the knee, the elbow, the back. I am jumping, falling on the court, but that’s part of the clay too and yeah, just accept that.”
It is worth noting that discovery+ is poised to be the exclusive streaming platform for the Olympic Games, offering viewers access to every moment of Paris 2024 this summer. With a user base of over 3 million individuals, the platform is set to be a vital destination for sports enthusiasts seeking comprehensive coverage of the upcoming Olympic events.