Tennis fans will not get to watch Rafael Nadal in action at the US Open this week. The 22-time Grand Slam winner has withdrawn from what would have likely been his last ever appearance this month, as the Spaniard icon edges closer towards retirement. Nadal, 38, initially put his name on the entry list for Flushing Meadows – which gets underway on August 26 and ends on September 8 – but admitted it was just a formality in case he decided to play. As it is the final Grand Slam of the calendar, Nadal’s loyal supporters had hoped to see him in action on the big stage one final time this year, which could well be his last as a professional.

He pulled out of the Grand Slam – his third this year – having only featured at the French Open, where he lost at the first hurdle to Alexander Zverev. The Spaniard has competed in just seven tournaments this year due to ongoing injuries and hasn’t played a match away from his favoured clay courts since January. Having missed Wimbledon to focus on his preparation for the Olympics, Nadal competed in the Paris Games last month. He formed a dream doubles team with compatriot and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, but the duo were knocked out in the quarter-finals.

He fared worse in the singles as eventual gold medallist and eternal rival Novak Djokovic trumped him in the second round. Following his disappointing Olympics end, the tennis legend suggested it may have been his final event as a player. His fans breathed a sigh of relief when he confirmed that would not be the case soon after in a statement, saying: “Hi all, writing today is to let you guys know that I have decided not to compete at this year’s US Open a place where I have amazing memories.

“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 percent this time. Thanks to all my US Fans in particular, will miss you all and will see you another time.” He dropped a fresh bombshell by announcing he will return for at least one more tournament – the Laver Cup. “Best of luck to all for the always amazing US Open! My next event will be the Laver Cup in Berlin,” his statement read.

The 2024 Laver Cup takes place from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 September. The veteran will once again unite with Alcaraz, as well as Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas, for Bjorn Borg’s team at the Uber Arena in Berlin. There has been much talk in recent months of whether Nadal will call time on his career by the end of this year. The ‘King of Clay’ has repeatedly insisted he will continue playing for as long as he feels competitive, even with his long-term injury woes.

He said after the French Open: “I feel like I’m finding the pleasure of playing again, having fun. I want to give myself a chance to see if my physique remains at this level or if it is only a temporary moment and that it starts to go wrong again. I give myself time to see how I will feel after the Olympic Games, and then we will see what will happen, what decisions I will make.” But his tone was markedly different after the Games, which may have provided the biggest clue yet regarding his impending retirement. In the aftermath of his shattering defeat to Djokovic, he said: “I try to look forward. I gave myself until the Olympics. When this tournament is over, I will take the necessary decisions based on my feelings and desire. It is difficult to recover if I am thinking about whether I retire.

“For many people it makes little sense. If I feel that I am not competitive I will make the decision to stop. I just try my best every single day, trying to enjoy a thing that I have been enjoying for so much time. “I have been suffering a lot of injuries the last two years. So if I feel that I am not competitive enough to keep going or physically I’m not ready to keep going I will stop and let you know. I don’t have the legs of 20 years ago. Without the ball quality and without the legs of 20 years ago, you’re not going to create problems for the best player in history.”

Fans will have to wait til after the Laver Cup to hear his final decision. His friend and former rival Roger Federer said an emotional farewell at the Laver Cup himself two years ago, though the Swiss admitted earlier this year that he hopes Nadal can “keep playing forever.”