Simona Halep, number two in the world, confirmed on Monday that she will not finally fly to New York to participate in the Cincinnati tournament or the US Open, both planned in the Big Apple bubble . A day after winning the second title of the season in Prague, the Romanian tennis player has indicated on social networks that she has analyzed "all the factors and especially the exceptional health circumstances in which we are living", to make the decision. "I always said that I would put my health above everything," he added. “I prefer to stay and train in Europe. I know both the USTA and the WTA have worked tirelessly to ensure this event and I wish the tournament the best of success, ”Halep assured.
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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
I always said I would put my health at the heart of my decision
Days ago, Australian Darren Cahill, Halep's coach, had already hinted that the Constanza player would decline to participate in Flushing Meadows, but until this Monday the tennis player had not officially spoken. With the decision of Halep, semifinalist in New York in 2015, the trickle of casualties in the women's team continues. Three of the four semi-finalists of the 2019 edition have decided not to travel to New York anymore. Switzerland's Belinda Bencic announced it on Sunday, but before that title defender Bianca Andreescu of Canada and Elena Svitolina of Ukraine decided to skip the US Open, which is scheduled to run from August 31 to September 13.
World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty of Australia, Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands (seven) and 2004 tournament winner Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia have also said no to Flushing Meadows. In all these cases, the coronavirus pandemic has been the reason that has led them to quit the tournament. Nor will they be, in this case in the men's box, Rafael Nadal, number two in the world, Gael Monfils, number nine, Fabio Fognini, Stan Wawrinka, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Nick Kirgyos and Roger Federer, although in his case due to injury.