Nadal: “I respect the players who go to the US Open to win money”

The Spanish Rafael Nadal said on Wednesday that the decision to resign from playing the United States Open had been taken with caution and due to the health situation and his state of mind He added that he respects the work of the ATP and USTA in bringing tennis back, and also to players who decide to go to New York because they need the prize money.

In a video conference with various agencies, NAdal also indicated that he felt the cancellation of the Mutua Madrid Open, but understood that it was a “sensible and consistent” decision.

Nadal added that he does not know yet if he will participate in the Masters 1,000 in Rome, although he has been training on the ground for months, and who is now waiting to see how the situation of the pandemic evolves, and the new calendar after the cancellation of Madrid, to decide.

When asked if it would be better to cancel the entire season this year, it was clear: “My heart tells me that it would be better to do that (focus on 2021 and take the course as lost), but there are so many other interests. “

“Like all decisions, in the end they are not taken lightly and you have to consult them well with the people next to me and who really matter to me. I believe that in the current situation all decisions are valid. There is nothing that is safe or correct, “he said of New York.

“But the health situation is the first basic problem when making my decision, the situation seems to be not completely controlled, therefore in this case, consulted with my team we decided this “, continued Nadal.

“Second, the schedule is complicated after many months without competing. Going from hard court to land, with hardly any time and preparing it is dangerous for my body and my future, “he continued.

“Then, a matter of personal spirit. The situation is as it is, and my spirit was not enough to travel to New York and compete. If I am going to compete it is to have all my senses in the competition and perform at my best, and today it would have been difficult.

“Circumstances have forced me to make this decision”, He said of his resignation from defending the title at Flushing Meadows. “I don't want to take long trips, everything is under control here in Mallorca,” he added.

Asked if he believes this Grand Slam will finally be played, Nadal said: “Today it is going to be disputed, it seems so, but I cannot say what will happen in the coming weeks. The intention, of course, is for Cincinnati and New York to be played. The intention of ATP and USTA is to keep the tournament going. “

Nadal did not want to enter into whether it is correct for this 'big' to be disputed due to the situation in the United States. “I am not the one to say whether it is a wise decision or not. I respect all the work and the positive attitude of the ATP and the USTA for making tennis come back, “he said.

“I also respect other players who decide to go, because for example they have a different situation and want to earn money there that they need. I respect all decisions, but today it is difficult to say if it is the right thing or not, “he settled.

Regarding his future, the number two in the world said that “after the cancellation of the Madrid tournament”, he did not yet know his schedule. “I am preparing for the land in Europe. It depends on how the situation is and if everything is under control or not”He said of the upcoming appointments, which would include Rome and Roland Garros.

“I understood that it was much better for my body to train on a slow surface, less aggressive for general well-being. Although that didn't take away from me so I could have played later in New York, “he said.

“I do not know if I will play Rome or not. I await news of the new adapted calendar after the cancellation of Madrid and from there I will have to make decisions.

Nadal also assured that if he had done several tests and that everything was correct. “Yes, I have been tested several times for various things that I have had to do medicals and all good, luckily. “

Regarding the Madrid tournament, Nadal commented that it was “an unpleasant situation for the city, and for the organizers“of the two events planned this year (Mutua Madrid Open and Davis Cup Finals).

“The health situation makes it very difficult for events of this caliber to be held with players from all over the world and many who would have come from New York, “he reasoned.

“The situation in recent days in Spain could be not completely controlled and with outbreaks of contagion, and therefore you have to have a little patience to see how things are going, “he said.

“A tournament of this caliber is not organized from one day to the next. Financially, I understand that a tournament with these conditions, without an audience and with all the protocols that have to be prepared, it would have been a disaster for the promoters, “he explained.

“Things have to go well for everyone, for the players, the promoters and the city. If there had been contagions it would have turned out in a not very positive way. For me it has been a sensible and consistent decision, “said Nadal.

The Spanish left-hander said that I would never “have wanted 2020 like this”

“Neither I nor anyone else. Later, what may happen in 2021 will be seen and I will face it with the maximum illusion Yes, it is coming, and with the greatest possible professionalism, “he said.

“He has caught me (this whole situation) at an advanced age and at a good professional moment in my career. So, positive at a professional level has not been in any case, “said Nadal.