Double blow for US Open as two WTA top 10 stars withdraw from Flushing Meadows event

US Open
Elina Svitolina at US Open

Elina Svitolina and Kiki Bertens have become the latest high-profile players to withdraw from the US Open due to concerns over the coronavirus.

World No 1 Ashleigh Barty was initially the only WTA top 10 player absent from the Flushing Meadows entry list, but world No 5 Svitolina and the seventh-ranked Bertens have now joined her on the sidelines.

Dutchwoman Bertens was first to announce her decision to pull out of both the Western & Southern Open and the US Open on social media, but says she hopes to play at the Italian Open and French Open.

 

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Na lang nadenken heb ik besloten niet naar Amerika te gaan voor de toernooien Cincinnati en Us open. De situatie rond COVID-19 is nog dusdanig zorgwekkend dat de gezondheid van iedereen voorop staat en de controle over dit virus uiteraard prioriteit heeft. Zo heeft onze premier gisteren ook aangegeven dat we na Amerika 2 weken in quarantaine zouden moeten. Uiteraard respecteren wij dit als team en zou dit de voorbereiding voor mijn geliefde gravel in Rome en Parijs in de weg zitten. Ik hoop dat de situatie snel een positieve wending zal krijgen en wens iedereen een goede gezondheid toe # after long consideration I have decided not to go to the states for Cincinnati and the Us open. The situation around COVID-19 is still that worrying and the health of everyone and the control over this virus is priority. Our prime minister indicated yesterday that we should be quarantined for 14 days after coming back from the states. Off course we respect this as a team and this would disturb our preparation for my beloved clay court tournaments in Rome and Paris. I hope the situation will soon take a positive turn and wish everyone good health. Take care!

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“After long consideration I have decided not to go to the states for Cincinnati and the Us open,” she wrote.

“The situation around COVID-19 is still that worrying and the health of everyone and the control over this virus is priority. Our prime minister indicated yesterday that we should be quarantined for 14 days after coming back from the states.

“Off course we respect this as a team and this would disturb our preparation for my beloved clay court tournaments in Rome and Paris. I hope the situation will soon take a positive turn and wish everyone good health. Take care!”

Not long after Svitolina, who reached the semi-final in New York in 2019, also announced that she will not travel to the United States.

“Considering all the aspects, I have decided to not play the US Open 2020,” the Ukrainian wrote.
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“I want to thank the USTA, organizers and WTA for giving the players a chance to play and the fans a chance to watch this great event. I understand and respect all the efforts they are putting to make it happen in a safe environment, but I still don’t feel comfortable to travel to US without putting my team and myself at high risk.”
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Elina Svitolina Kiki Bertens

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