WTA No. 1 Ash Barty Withdraws From US Open Over COVID-19 Concerns
(July 29, 2020) World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty has withdrawn from the 2020 US Open. The 24-year-old Australian has cited travel concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic for her reason not to participate in the major tournament.
In a statement put out by her management team , Barty said:
“My team and I have decided that we won’t be traveling to the U.S. for the Western and Southern Open and the U.S. Open this year.”
“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 USTA all the best for the tournaments and look forward to being back in the U.S. next year.”
The US Open is scheduled to begin on August 31, without fans in attendance.
Barty, who is the defending French Open champion said that she will be making a decision about playing Roland Garros and the European Swing soon.
The French Open moved its dates from Late may to September 27 due to the Coronavirus pandemic which shut down the tour back in March.
The WTA Tour is set to return next week with tournaments in Palermo , Italy and Lexington, Kentucky.
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