Bianca Andreescu to defend U.S. Open title, Rafael Nadal out due to pandemic

#Tennis; #USOpen; #Covid19Pandemic 

​Toronto, Aug 4 (Canadian-Media): Bianca Andreescu, 20,  ranked No. 6 in the world rankings, the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam singles championship, will defend her women's title at the U.S. Open, but Rafael Nadal, who was to defend men's champion said Aug 4 he will skip it due to the coronavirus pandemic, media reports said.

Bianca Andreescu. Image credit: Twitter handle

In a series of tweets sent in Spanish and English on Tuesday Nadal explained his decision to skip out.

"The situation is very complicated worldwide, the COVID-19 cases are increasing, it looks like we still don't have control of it," Nadal wrote.

Nadal, 34, of Spain called sitting out the tournament scheduled to begin Aug. 31 in New York "a decision I never wanted to take," but added that he would "rather not travel...We know that the reduced tennis calendar is barbaric this year after four months stopped with no play; I understand and thank (everyone) for the efforts they are putting in to make it happen."

Last September Andreescu defeated Serena Williams in the U.S. Open final to become the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam singles championship.​

Since October, she hasn't played because of injury.

Announcement of the competitors, said the organizers, would be done closer to the start of the tournament, which is scheduled for Aug. 31.