Simona Halep to skip U.S. Open due to coronavirus concerns

Simona Halep confirmed on Monday that she won't play in the 2020 U.S. Open due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

Simona Halep withdraws from U.S. Open due to coronavirus concerns

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Aug 17, 2020 2:09 PM ET

Simona Halep confirmed on Monday that she won't play in the 2020 U.S. Open due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The 28-year-old, who won the 2019 Wimbledon title, explained her decision via Twitter:

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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
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) August 17, 2020

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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
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) August 17, 2020

Halep, the world No. 2, likely would've been a favorite to take the crown in New York, as she won the Prague Open on Sunday.

As Kevin Mitchell of The Guardian wrote, world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, Elina Svitolina, Kiki Bertens, and Belinda Bencic are other top-ten players who have also opted out of competing in the U.S. Open due to the uncontrolled virus outbreak.

Meanwhile, Serena Williams remains committed to participating in New York when the tournament gets underway on Aug. 31.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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