Will Rafael Nadal make one more appearance at Flushing Meadows after the Olympics? Spaniard has protected ranking for main men's draw; watch the US Open - the year's final Grand Slam - live only on Sky Sports Tennis from August 26-September 8
Wednesday 17 July 2024 11:50, UK
Rafael Nadal has been named on the entry list for August's US Open - tennis' final Grand Slam of the year, which is live on Sky Sports.
Nadal is a four-time champion at Flushing Meadows but has only played once there since he last won the title in 2019.
With organisers revealing the main-draw entry lists for the August 26 - September 8 tournament, 38-year-old Nadal features on the men's list courtesy of a protected ranking of nine, although his inclusion does not necessarily mean he will play.
Nadal skipped Wimbledon this month to keep focused on his preparations for the Paris Olympics, where he is due to play doubles with Spanish countryman Carlos Alcaraz on the clay of Roland Garros, where he has won a record 14 French Open titles.
The men's doubles final at the Olympics takes place on August 3 with the length of Nadal's career uncertain beyond the Games with the Spaniard having previously indicated he is likely to retire from tennis by the end of the year.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has returned to singles and doubles action at the Swedish Open this week in his first matches since losing to Alexander Zverev in the opening round of the French Open on May 27.
In the women's draw, Britain's Emma Raducanu, the 2021 champion, is guaranteed a place at Flushing Meadows too after she returned to the top 100 of the world rankings by progressing to the fourth round at Wimbledon, her best run at a Grand Slam since her US Open triumph.
World No 1s Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner head the respective entry lists for the tournament, with defending champions Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic each ranked at No 2.
Alcaraz, ranked third, is chasing a third successive Grand Slam title after winning the French Open and Wimbledon as he returns to the venue where he won his first major in 2022.
Barbora Krejcikova, who won the women's title at Wimbledon, is ranked 10th.
Among several former title winners currently not qualifying for direct acceptance to the draw is 2012 champion Andy Murray, who is the the 26th alternate with a world ranking of 123.
Murray, who has already bowed out at Wimbledon, is set to play in singles at the Paris Olympics as well as in the men's doubles with Dan Evans, but has indicated he may call time on his career after that.
Naomi Osaka, the 2020 champion, who has returned to tennis this year from maternity leave, is the sixth alternate in the women's draw.
There will be eight wildcards and 16 qualifiers in each singles draw.
Qualifying takes place from August 19 to August 22.
In the run-up to the final Grand Slam of 2024 - the US Open - you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the hard-court season.
Watch the US Open exclusively live on Sky Sports Tennis from August 26-September 8. Stream the year's final Grand Slam, and the latest ATP and WTA Tour events, instantly on NOW.
