Jim Courier gives his verdict on Rafael Nadal's decision to miss US Open

Rafael Nadal's forfeit at the US Open has generated a long debate. He was the second big name to slip out of the title race, after Roger Federer. Jim Courier defended the choice of the Iberian, saying that the compressed calendar does not help the players. “Look we would love to see Rafael Nadal here, I’m not gonna be diplomatic about this," Jim Courier said. "I mean as the defending champion you wanna see him there. But it's understandable given how they have had to compress the season and put the French Open now just a couple weeks after this Cincinnati-US Open series. "With a player who’s had a history of having physical problems and breaking down after playing on hard-courts, I think it’s pretty easy to put yourself in his shoes and say 'listen, he’s going for his 13th Roland Garros title.' He wants to give himself the best chance to do that." The American also believes that Rafael Nadal would have opted for both Grand Slams had the French Open taken place before the event in New York. “I think if Roland Garros had been in front of the US Open he would have undoubtedly played the US Open but I just think this is a function of the season getting compressed into a very short pocket and him being cautious," Courier said. "I don’t think his concern is remotely virus-related, it’s his physical ability to withstand the rigours of this restart having not played a tournament now since February”. Source: tennisworldusa

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