Rafael Nadal has announced his withdrawal from the US Open 2024, expressing his regret about missing the “electric and special night sessions” at Arthur Ashe Stadium. This marks the third Grand Slam event he’s missed this year, prompting further speculation about his future in tennis as he approaches his 39th birthday.
Nadal shared on social media that he doesn’t believe he can perform at his best right now. His next scheduled event is the Laver Cup in Berlin from September 20-22, where he previously teamed up with Roger Federer for a memorable doubles match in 2022 during Federer’s farewell.
Nadal’s decision was somewhat anticipated despite being on the official entry list for the US Open released last month. His recent performances, including a quarterfinal loss in doubles at the 2024 Olympics with Carlos Alcaraz and a second-round singles defeat to Novak Djokovic, hinted at this outcome.
Nadal has not hinted at retirement, but his recent injury history, including hip surgery in 2023 and abdominal muscle issues in 2024, suggests his time on the court may be limited. He has captured the US Open title four times, in 2010, 2013, 2017, and 2019, but has missed the tournament in four of the past five years, only participating in 2022 when he lost to Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round.
The Spaniard’s injury woes began at the Australian Open in January 2023, leading to his absence from the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open that year. In 2024, a hip injury during a warm-up event for the Australian Open forced him to sit out, and his return at the French Open ended with a first-round exit against Alexander Zverev. Nadal skipped Wimbledon to avoid transitioning from clay to grass, and then back to clay for the Olympics.
Nadal holds a record 14 French Open titles, with additional victories at Wimbledon and the Australian Open. His latest Grand Slam wins came in 2022 at Melbourne and Paris, where he surpassed Roger Federer’s then-record of 20 major titles. Federer retired at 41 in 2022, and both he and Nadal have been overtaken by Djokovic, who now holds 24 Grand Slam titles following his 2023 US Open win.
With Nadal’s withdrawal, the US Tennis Association announced that Mackie McDonald, ranked 93rd, will take his place. McDonald notably defeated Nadal at the 2023 Australian Open. The draw for the US Open is set for August 22.
