In a huge blow to the US Open, World No.2 Simona Halep has decided against traveling to the United States to participate in the Cincinnati Open and the US Open.

She released her statement on Twitter. For many weeks there were various indications of uncertainties from Halep on her US Open participation. And today she has confirmed that she won’t be participating.

“I always said I would put my health at the heart of my decision” – Simona Halep

Like many others, Halep is reluctant to travel because of the pandemic. The US is still in the grips of the pandemic and so she has decided to put her health first.

“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 US Open” Halep tweeted

Halep acknowledged the efforts the USTA and the WTA have put in to make the US Open a safer event. And she wishes her colleagues for a successful and safe tournament.

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“I always said I would put my health at the heart of my decision and I, therefore, prefer to stay and train in Europe. I know the USTA and WTA have worked tirelessly to put on a safe event and I wish everyone there a successful tournament.” she further tweeted

Read More: “It Will be Difficult For Me” – Simona Halep on Restarting Tennis

Halep yesterday won the WTA Prague Open. The tournament was played on clay. So Halep might be eyeing a return at the clay tournaments which will start just after the US Open in Europe.

This makes the top two ranked players in the world to be absent from the US Open. A few weeks ago World No.1 Ash Barty also withdrew citing traveling to the US as a risk.

The women’s singles draw at the US Open will now only have four players from the top 10. World No.3 Karolina Pliskova will be the top-ranked player. The other three from the top 10 are Sofia Kenin and former champions at the Flushing Meadows Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka.