World number two Rafael Nadal has announced that he will not be taking part in the US Open, which is due to start later this month.
The tournament is set to be the first major to take place since the coronavirus pandemic struck, but Nadal has decided the risk is too great.
He took to Twitter on Tuesday evening to announce his decision to fans, and slammed the tennis calendar as "barbaric." Nadal said: "After many thoughts I have decided not to play this year’s US Open.
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 for the efforts