Wimbledon champion Halep opts out of playing at US Open over virus fears

Wimbledon champion Simona Halep will skip the US Open, saying on Monday she is putting her health first and prefers to stay in Europe amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Halep, a former top-ranked player who is currently No.2, won the title in Prague on Sunday.

"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," tweeted Halep, the current Wimbledon champion.

"I always said I would put my health at the heart of my decision and I therefore prefer to stay and train in Europe."

The Romanian added: "I know the @usta and @WTA have worked tirelessly to put on a safe event and I wish everyone there a successful tournament."

Six of the top eight women in the WTA rankings won’t play in New York. No.1 Ash Barty and defending champion Bianca Andreescu have also withdrawn from the tournament.

Simona Halep poses with the trophy as she celebrates after winning the final against Elena Rybakina in Dubai. File

Other women who won’t be playing include No.5 Elina Svitolina, No.7 Kiki Bertens and No.8 Belinda Bencic.

The US Open is scheduled to start at Flushing Meadows on Aug.31.

"I know the (at)usta and (at)WTA have worked tirelessly to put on a safe event and I wish everyone there a successful tournament,” Halep wrote.

Irina Khromacheva of Russia will replace Halep in the main draw, according to the United States Tennis Association.

Rafael Nadal, the men’s defending champion, has also withdrawn from the tournament, but top-ranked Novak Djokovic has said he will play. Roger Federer is out for the rest of the season after two operations on his right knee.

Stan Wawrinka, the 2016 US Open champion, is also out, along with Gael Monfils and Nick Kyrgios.

New York was one of the hardest-hit US cities when COVID-19 first spiked in March and April, a temporary hospital even being established on indoor courts at the US Tennis Centre.
Women's tennis only got back under way early this month in Palermo, Italy, after the game's virus-enforced shutdown came into effect five months early.

Agencies