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3 reasons why Nadal is better off making return at French Open

By Alex Hyman

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 29: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action during his Mens Singles Quarterfinal match against Dominic Thiem of Austria on day ten of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 29, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Fred Lee/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 29: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action during his Mens Singles Quarterfinal match against Dominic Thiem of Austria on day ten of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 29, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Fred Lee/Getty Images) /
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Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the US Open over concerns of the coronavirus. The French Open will be his next Grand Slam appearance. Here are 3 reasons why Nadal has made the right decision.

Rafael Nadal is the current world no. 2 in the ATP rankings.

1. Injury Prevention 

Nadal has always struggled on hard courts in contrast to his performances on clay and especially when it comes to injuries. The battering that hard court tennis gives to his knees has led to months out of the game for the Spaniard.

Rafael Nadal
A courtside trainer looks after Rafael Nadal of Spain (R) after an injury to his knee while playing against Andy Murray of Britain in their men’s singles quarter-final match on day nine of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 26, 2010. Murray won the match 6-3, 7-6, 3-0 when Nadal retired due to injury. AFP PHOTO / PAUL CROCK (Photo credit should read PAUL CROCK/AFP via Getty Images) /

The hard courts give no let-up. Point after point, Nadal sprints from side to side, up and down the court, gradually wearing down his injury-prone knees.

In missing this year’s US Open swing, Nadal can avoid competition on hard courts and make sure his body is in the best possible shape going into the French Open in September.

2. Focus on winning

With Nadal only one Grand Slam behind Roger Federer on the all-time list, there has got to be some incentive to focus purely on the French Open. “The King of Clay” says it all. His best chances to match Federer’s record are in Paris, the home of Roland Garros.

Rafael Nadal
PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 09: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates with the trophy following the mens singles final against Dominic Thiem of Austria during Day fifteen of the 2019 French Open at Roland Garros on June 09, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /

In skipping New York, Nadal can start training early on the clay in order to maximize his already high chances of claiming his 13th French Open title.

3. It’s a good look 

Rafael Nadal
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain poses for a selfie with a fan during a Kia Key handover ceremony at Federation Square ahead of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 15, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images) /

Nadal is already one of, if not the most, loved tennis player of all time. Wherever he goes in the world, Nadal fans will be there.

Actions of tennis players during the coronavirus pandemic have often been questioned. Notably, Novak Djokovic and his Adria Tour disaster in June. So, it is a good look for Nadal’s image that he is missing the US Open over concerns of spreading and catching the virus.

Next. 3 reasons why Federer will succeed in 2021 return to ATP Tour. dark

Not just for Nadal, but for tennis too, it is important that the sport remains to be seen to make the right decisions with regards to the health and safety of the public. It is certainly no bad thing that such a high profile figure in the world of sport has taken this decision.

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