A few, including Djokovic and Williams, have chosen to stay in private homes where they must pay for 24-hour security approved by the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Briton Andy Murray, the 2012 US Open champion, said the atmosphere felt “pretty sad,” but he praised the precautionary measures. World number two Simona Halep is missing, as is reigning US Open champion Bianca Andreescu of Canada and top ten players Elina Svitolina, Kiki Bertens and Belinda Bencic. She could meet 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens in the third round, Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the semi-finals and potentially Czech top seed Karolina Pliskova in the final. For Williams, who lost in the US Open and Wimbledon finals each of the past two years, a diminished field doesn’t devalue the title.

Source: Manila Times August 30, 2020 16:16 UTC