World number two Halep withdraws from US Open over COVID-19 concerns
World number two Simona Halep of Romania will not travel to New York to play in the US Open due to COVID-19 concerns, she said on Monday, leaving the women’s draw at the Grand Slam tournament without six of the world’s top-10 players.
Romanian Halep joined world number one Ash Barty, defending champion Bianca Andreescu, Elina Svitolina, Kiki Bertens and Belinda Bencic in skipping the event at Flushing Meadows.
For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.
“After weighing up all the factors involved and with the exceptional circumstances in which we are living, I have decided that I will not travel to New York to play the U.S. Open,” Halep, the reigning Wimbledon champion, wrote on Twitter.
1/2
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) August 17, 2020
After weighing up all the factors involved and with the exceptional circumstances in which we are living, I have decided that I will not travel to New York to play the @usopen
I always said I would put my health at the heart of my decision
“I always said I would put my health at the heart of my decision and I therefore prefer to stay and train in Europe. I know the USTA and WTA have worked tirelessly to put on a safe event and I wish everyone there a successful tournament.”
Halep, 28, won the Prague Open over the weekend -- her first event since COVID-19 pandemic shut down tennis in March -- and said she would announce her decision about playing in the US Open on Monday.
For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app
The US has become the world’s biggest hotspot for the novel coronavirus, recording over 5.4 million cases and more than 170,000 deaths, according to a Reuters tally.
The US Open, due to start on August 31, will be played behind closed doors and Halep’s absence is another blow to organizers following a spate of withdrawals.
World number two and defending men’s champion Rafa Nadal decided to skip the tournament while five-times winner Roger Federer is taking the rest of the year off to recover from knee surgery.
Former world number four Kei Nishikori of Japan said on Sunday he had tested positive for COVID-19 and had pulled out of the Western & Southern Open, a warm-up tournament for the US Open.
-
Nadal not to defend US Open title due to COVID-19 concerns, entries announced
World number two Rafa Nadal confirmed on Tuesday that he will not defend his US Open crown this year at Flushing Meadows as organizers released the ... Coronavirus -
Halep claims 20th career title with Dubai triumph after beating Rybakina
Top seed Simona Halep came back from a set down for the third time in the tournament to beat Kazakhstan’s rising star Elena Rybakina 3-6 6-3 ... Sports -
Halep wins Wimbledon, stops Williams’ bid for 24th Slam
Simona Halep was not focused on trying to prevent Serena Williams from winning a 24th Grand Slam title. All Halep cared about was winning Wimbledon ... Sports -
New mum Stosur to skip rest of 2020 tennis season but vows to return to court
Former US Open champion Samantha Stosur has decided to sit out the rest of 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic after becoming a mother last month but the ... Coronavirus -
Tennis: What the revised rankings mean for top five men champions
Men’s governing body ATP on Monday unveiled a revised system for calculating world rankings when the season resumes in August following a five-month ... Coronavirus -
Men’s world number one tennis player Djokovic tests positive for coronavirus
Novak Djokovic, the men’s world number one tennis player, has tested positive for COVID-19, the Serbian said in a statement on Tuesday.Croatia’s Borna ... Coronavirus