The world number 1 Ashleigh Barty has confirmed that she will not play at the US Open 2020 on August 31 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“My team and I have decided that we will not be going to the Western and Southern Open and the US Open this year,” Barty said.
“I love both events so it was a difficult decision. But there are still significant risks involved due to Covid-19, and I don’t feel comfortable putting my team and I in that position.”
“I wish the United States Tennis Federation the best for these tournaments and look forward to returning to the United States next year.” Barty added.
New York and its surroundings were however able to contain at a low level the cases of contamination, after the outbreak of March-April, while Florida, Texas and California are among the most affected areas. The most bereaved country in the world by the coronavirus outbreak, the United States has 4.4 million confirmed cases.
The announcement of the 24-year-old comes as no surprise. At the beginning of June, she had left doubt on her participation in the US Open. And on social networks, many Internet users were sympathetic about this decision.
Barty added that she would continue to monitor the outbreak situation before deciding whether she will travel to Europe to defend her title at Roland Garros, which begins on September 27.
“I will make my decision on the French Open and the surrounding WTA European tournaments in the coming weeks,” Barty said.
The world number 1 Novak Djokovic and his runner-up Rafael Nadal, like Serena Williams in the women, are among the entries of the Western and Southern Open, from August 20 to 28 in New York, announced the organizers on Wednesday.
These WTA and ATP tournaments, moved to New York due to the coronavirus outbreak, will be played without fans on the courts of Flushing Meadows.
