World primary Ashleigh Barty pulled out of the US Open Thursday over “vital dangers” from the coronavirus pandemic in a significant blow for the Grand Slam, which is scheduled to start out in New York on August 31. The Australian is the most important identify up to now to withdraw from the match, along with her choice coming as the US marked a grim milestone when its COVID-19 deaths topped 150,000. “My workforce and I’ve determined that we cannot be travelling to the US for the Western and Southern Open and the US Open this yr,” she stated in a press release to Australian media. “I really like each occasions so it was a troublesome choice however there are nonetheless vital dangers concerned because of COVID-19 and I do not really feel comfy placing my workforce and I in that place.
“I want the USTA all the most effective for the tournaments and stay up for being again within the US subsequent yr,” she added.
Her choice got here regardless of the New York space preserving coronavirus circumstances at a comparatively low degree since spiking in March and April whereas areas comparable to Florida, Texas and California have turn into hotspots.
There have been greater than four.four million detected infections in America up to now.
It was not surprising from Barty, who final month expressed considerations concerning the US Open going forward, and he or she received loads of assist Thursday on social media for her “smart” choice to provide it a miss.
The 24-year-old, who surged to the highest of the rankings final yr and has stayed there since, stated she would proceed to watch the scenario earlier than deciding whether or not to journey to Europe to organize for a defence of her French Open crown.
“I’ll make my choice on the French Open and the encircling WTA European tournaments within the coming weeks,” she stated, with Roland Garros because of begin on September 27.
– Reshuffled calendar –
Barty was one among a number of main girls gamers not on the entry listing Wednesday for the ATP and WTA Western and Southern Open, a tune-up occasion for the US Open from August 20-28 in a quarantine setting with out spectators at Flushing Meadows.
Whereas Serena Williams was confirmed, others lacking included world quantity two Simona Halep, the present Wimbledon champion, plus fifth-rated Elina Svitolina and final yr’s US Open champion, sixth-ranked Bianca Andreescu, together with Japan’s Naomi Osaka.
Whether or not they play the US Open will be seen.
In distinction, world primary Novak Djokovic, the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, and second-ranked Rafael Nadal, the present US Open champion, had been among the many males’s entries, signalling their doubtless intent to play the Grand Slam.
Additionally on the listing was Barty’s fellow Australian Nick Kyrgios, who final month blasted the ATP as “egocentric” for urgent forward with plans for the US Open.
The opinionated Kyrgios has since waged a working battle on social media with among the high names within the sport who performed at Djokovic’s ill-fated Adria Tour tennis exhibition final month, blasting their “stupidity” and dangerous behaviour.
Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki all examined optimistic for COVID-19.
The tennis season has been at a standstill since mid-March because of the virus outbreak worldwide, with Wimbledon cancelled for the primary time since World Conflict II.
Promoted
Calendars have been reshuffled with the WTA tour scheduled to restart on August three in Palermo, Italy.
The lads are set to get again beneath means on the Western and Southern Open, one of many few occasions for the reason that match started in 1899 that it has not been held within the Cincinnati space.
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