Defending champion Rafael Nadal will skip the 2020 U.S. Open amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Nadal announced his decision on Twitter Tuesday afternoon, saying it's "a decision I never wanted to take" but he would prefer to avoid traveling right now.
"The situation is very complicated worldwide, the COVID-19 cases are increasing, it looks like we still don't have control of it. We know that the reduced tennis calendar is barbaric this year after 4 months stopped with no play, I understand and thank [you] for the efforts they are putting in to make it happen," Nadal wrote.