NEW YORK Rafael Nadal’s protected ranking allowed him to be included to the U.S. Open entry list, but it does not mean he will compete in the year’s last Grand Slam event.
Over the past two seasons, Nadal has struggled with injury and has only sometimes played. In Bastad, Sweden, he is playing in his first event in one and a half months. He defeated Leo Borg, the son of former player Bjorn Borg, in the singles draw after winning a doubles match with Casper Ruud.
Play at the U.S. Open begins on August 26. The 38-year-old Rafael Nadal won four of his 22 Grand Slam titles there in 2010, 2013, 2017, and 2019. He lost in the fourth round of the 2022 tournament, missing the event in three of the previous four years.
He is anticipated to participate in the tennis competition at the Paris Olympics, which will begin on July 27 at Roland Garros, the site of the French Open. However, it’s unclear if or to what extent Nadal will play in the future.
Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner, the top two seeds, topped the U.S. Tennis Association’s announcement of the men’s and women’s singles entry lists, which were based on the ATP and WTA rankings.
The two defending New York winners, Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff, are now ranked No. 2. On August 22, a draw will be held to determine the brackets for the U.S. Open.