In an unprecedented move, the ATP will strip the Grand Slam tournament of ranking points, effectively making it an exhibition event. Most top players are still expected to participate.
Nadal, playing in pain in a loss to Denis Shapovalov at the Italian Open, came away downbeat and pensive with the year’s second Grand Slam event less than two weeks away.
The tournament has been a launching pad for young players recently, including Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu, who went on to win the U.S. Open in the same year.