US Open: Ashleigh Barty cancels
The world's number one Ashleigh Barty has canceled her start at the US Open 2020. Given the corona threat, she said she felt unsafe to expose herself and her team to the related dangers.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jul 30, 2020, 08:19 am
Barty is the first top player to officially reject Flushing Meadows.
"My team and I decided that we won't be going to the US for the Western and Southern Open and for the US Open this year," Barty told Australian Herald Sun.
The Western and Southern Open - the WTA Premier 5 event in Cincinnati - will take place this week in the week before the US Open, starting on August 21, also at the Flushing Meadows facility.
"I love both events, so it was a difficult decision. But there are still significant risks when it comes to COVID-19 and I don't feel comfortable putting my team and myself in the right position." She wishes the USTA all the best for the tournaments and is looking forward to coming back next year.
Barty leaves title defense open in Roland Garros
Barty left open the question of her participation in the European clay court tournaments to take place in the week after the US Open (from September 14th) - with Madrid, Rome and the French Open. You will make a decision in this regard in the coming weeks. Barty is the defending champion at the French Open.
Barty's cancellation should not be the only one. In the registration list of Cincinnati - a possible indicator also for the US Open participation - the top 10 are missing in addition to Barty also Simona Halep, Elina Svitolina, Bianca Andreescu and Naomi Osaka. The German top players Angelique Kerber and Julia Görges also do not appear on the entry list. Further short-term cancellations can be assumed.
At both the Cincinnati event and the subsequent US Open (main field from August 31 to September 13), no spectators are allowed on the facility. The players should train and play shielded in a "bubble". There will be no qualification this year.