The US Open gets underway in a week. Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff will come to Flushing Meadows as the defending champions while world No. 1s Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek look to add to their trophy cabinets.

But not everyone will be playing the last Grand Slam of the season, including Rafael Nadal. The four-time US Open champion is one of seven big names who have been forced to miss the tournament this year.

Express Sport takes a look at the key players who will be absent in New York.

Rafael Nadal

The 22-time Grand Slam winner put his name on the entry list but admitted this was just a formality in case he decided to play. Nadal has competed in just seven tournaments this year due to ongoing injury setbacks. He hasn’t played a match away from clay courts since January.

After the Olympics – where he reached the second round in singles and the quarter-final in doubles – he pulled out of the US Open. “I will miss those electric and special night sessions in NYC at Ashe, but I don’t think I would be able to give my 100 per cent this time. Thanks to all my US Fans in particular, will miss you all and will see you another time,” he wrote. Nadal’s next tournament will be the Laver Cup.

Cameron Norrie

The British No. 2 is carrying a forearm injury and has not played since losing to Nadal in Bastad a month ago. He travelled to the Olympics but withdrew hours before his match. Norrie then headed to Cincinnati but was also forced to pull out. He has since announced his US Open withdrawal, saying: “I have been working hard to get my body to full health – unfortunately my forearm injury is not recovering as soon as I would have hoped.”

Nick Kyrgios

The former Wimbledon finalist has played just one singles match since October 2022 after struggling with persistent knee and wrist injuries. He is set to make a comeback at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown exhibition tournament this week and will play another exho match in Flushing Meadows during US Open fan week but has not entered the main draw.

Simona Halep

Halep has barely played since having her four-year suspension reduced to nine months. She immediately returned at the Miami Open in March following a successful appeal but lost in the first round.

The former world No. 1 then entered a WTA 125 event in Paris in May but retired during her opening match. She has been sidelined by a knee injury ever since. Halep also failed to receive a wildcard for the French Open and did not apply for a Wimbledon one due to her physical issues.

Marketa Vondrousova

The world No. 18 has been plagued by injuries this summer. She fell and retired with a hip injury during the Berlin Championships in June but prematurely rushed back for her Wimbledon title defence though she lost in the first round. Vondrousova pulled out of the Olympics with a hand injury and has since withdrawn from the US Open.

Rafael Nadal is yet to confirm whether he will retire following his Olympic Games campaign but there is talk he could be set to follow Swiss legend Federer in his plan to call it quits

Rafael Nadal could be set to follow in the footsteps of fellow tennis legend Roger Federer and retire at this year’s Laver Cup.

The Spanish star has yet to confirm whether he will hang up his racket after his Olympic Games doubles tournament run with compatriot Carlos Alcaraz came to an end with a 6-2, 6-4 defeat to Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in Paris. After the loss, Nadal, who also lost to Novak Djokovic in the singles, gave a heartfelt wave to the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd, leading many fans to speculate that it could be the last time they see him grace the court.

However, the ‘King of Clay’ remained tight-lipped about his future plans post-match, sparking rumours that his last professional game could be at the Laver Cup in September due to a gap in his schedule. The Laver Cup holds special significance for Nadal as it was where his close friend and former rival, Federer, also decided to retire.

Nadal even partnered with the Swiss maestro for his final match – a doubles defeat to Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe. After his Paris defeat, he remained evasive about whether he would travel to the USA to gear up for the US Open, but the 38-year-old tennis legend was non-committal and indicated he needs a breather to plan ahead, reports the Express.

“It looks like not but I’m going to let you know soon. For me now, I can’t give you a clear answer, I need some time. But for me it looks difficult,” he said. “We’ll see if I keep playing the normal tour.”

Nadal, who has dominated Roland-Garros like no other player, also dropped a hint that his Olympic outing might have been his swansong while expressing deep love for the venue that witnessed his rise to greatness. “If that’s the last time, it’s an unforgettable feeling and emotions,” Nadal said.

“They give me the love and the support every single second that I have been on court. It’s super, super special to feel that in particular in this place.”

Federer, who called it quits at the Laver Cup two years prior, shares a close bond with Nadal. Their friendship has also sparked speculation that the Swiss icon could make a sensational return to play alongside Nadal at the tournament, mirroring the warm tribute Nadal paid him.

The event will take place at the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany from September 20th to 22nd, and has many fans speculating that it could be the stage for the 22-time Grand Slam winner to end his career. Former world No 1 Andy Roddick also shares this belief.

Speaking on his podcast, he said: “The Laver Cup could be a celebration. Hopefully we’ll see him in the big finals again. I don’t know. It feels like this could be the end.”

Whether Nadal will choose to retire in Berlin is yet to be seen. However, post-Olympics, he openly admitted that he’s no longer playing for results and titles as his career draws to a close. Instead, he’s seeking “experiences” and the emotions that competitive tennis brings him, rather than the glory of victory.

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Nick Kyrgios defeated Rafael Nadal in straight sets in Cincinnati seven years ago

Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios embraced nine duels between 2014 and 2022, with the Spaniard scoring six wins. Kyrgios knew how to play against the legend, stunning him at Wimbledon 2014 and earning another triumph three years later in Cincinnati.

You can watch the extended highlights of Nick’s commanding 6-2, 7-5 victory over Rafa in the 2017 Cincinnati quarter-final, overpowering the 2013 champion in 80 minutes. Nadal embraced two early exits in Ohio after lifting the trophy in 2013, hoping for a better run during the 2017 campaign after a stunning loss to Denis Shapovalov in Montreal.

Rafa took down Richard Gasquet and Albert Ramos-Vinolas, reaching his seventh Cincinnati quarter-final and arranging his fourth clash against Nick Kyrgios. The Aussie outplayed the Spaniard in the opening set and delivered a late break in the second set for a convincing triumph, firing from all cylinders, as seen in the video below.

Due to the rain, both players competed for the second time that day, and Nick preserved more energy for a high-quality performance. Instead of his usual tantrums and focus drops, Kyrgios remained composed from start to finish, attacking world no.

2 and taming his strokes nicely. The Aussie dropped 15 points in ten service games, defending two out of three break points and forcing the Spaniard to follow that pace. Nadal struggled behind the first and second serve. He dropped 45% of the points in his games on the fast hard court and experienced four breaks from seven chances offered to his opponent.

Kyrgios controlled his backhand and played only 16 loose strokes in the entire clash. He embraced deep and potent shots and made Nadal vulnerable. Also, the Aussie produced a break at love following his only loose service game, showing his determination and resilience.

Rafa could not impose his strokes, feeling constant pressure and spraying too many errors.

Nick Kyrgios outplayed Rafael Nadal in Cincinnati 2017.

Nadal tried to tame Kyrgios’ booming serves while standing way behind the baseline.

It only brought him a little while making his point construction much tougher. Nick blasted 21 service winners and generated a 16-12 lead in the direct points from the court. The Aussie stayed on 11 unforced errors, and the Spaniard counted 20, spraying 13 from his forehand wing.

As was expected, Kyrgios kept the points short, with two-thirds landing in the area of up to four strokes. The Aussie forged a 45-29 advantage, hitting more service winners and attacking first. To make things even better, Nick outplayed Rafa 21-17 in the most extended exchanges, rounding up his performance and scoring a notable victory.

Kyrgios was off to a dream start, rattling off four games in 13 minutes while committing only one error! Nadal felt issues right from the start, spraying a forehand error and getting broken at 15. Kyrgios cemented the lead with a powerful serve in the second game and made another push on the return in the next one.

The Aussie welcomed the Spaniard’s mistake and secured another break with a forehand winner, moving 3-0 in front and gathering a boost. Firing from all cylinders, Nick landed four winners in the fourth game, extending the gap and outplaying world no.

2. Nadal got his name on the scoreboard with a hold at love in game five, and Kyrgios mirrored that in the next one for 5-1. Rafa landed three winners in the seventh game, extending the battle before Nick wrapped up the opener with a powerful serve in the next one for 6-2 after 25 minutes.

The Aussie did everything right in the first set, hoping for more in the second. Nadal held at 15 at the beginning of the second set, and Kyrgios delivered four winners in the next one for 1-1, standing supreme behind the initial shot.

Rafa responded with four winners in the third game, looking much better on the court than in the opener. The Spaniard welcomed the rival’s two double fault faults in the fourth game, generating his first break chance.

Nadal squandered it with a loose forehand, allowing Kyrgios to wrap up the game with two powerful serves and lock the result at 2-2.

A missed opportunity took the focus away from Rafa, who made four mistakes in the fifth game and suffered a break at 15, sending Nick closer to the finish line. The Aussie cemented the advantage with an ace in game six, moving 6-2, 4-2 in front and closer to the finish line.

Nadal grabbed the seventh game after a deuce, remaining within one break deficit before Kyrgios slammed four winners in the next one for a 5-3 lead. Nick attacked on the return in game nine, firing a forehand winner and creating two match points.