Rafael Nadal US Open title defence 'doubtful' - reports

The likelihood of Rafa Nadal defending the US Open title he won in September last year have been cast into doubt, according to reports.

Several outlets have published a socal media message from his close friend and fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, stating that Nadal has confirmed that he will be playing in the Madrid Masters, which starts the day after the final of the Grand Slam tournament in New York.

That would obviously give Nadal very little time to travel back to Europe and get used to the clay surface of Madrid from the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.

The Madrid Masters and the Rome tournament which follows, are seen as key warm-up events for the French Open, rearranged to begin on 27th September.

Nadal has won 12 titles at Roland Garros, as well as five in Madrid and nine in Rome.

There are additional uncertainties surrounding the quarantine arrangements for players returning to Europe from the United States amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Image credits: AP