"My team and I have decided that we won't be travelling to the US for the Western and Southern Open and the US Open this year," she said in a statement to Australian media. Barty was one of several leading women players not on the entry list Wednesday for the ATP and WTA Western and Southern Open, a tune-up event for the US Open from August 20-28 in a quarantine environment without spectators at Flushing Meadows. While Serena Williams was confirmed, others missing included world number two Simona Halep, the current Wimbledon champion, plus fifth-rated Elina Svitolina and last year's US Open champion, sixth-ranked Bianca Andreescu, along with Japan's Naomi Osaka. In contrast, world number one Novak Djokovic, the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, and second-ranked Rafael Nadal, the current US Open champion, were among the men's entries, signalling their likely intent to play the Grand Slam. The men are set to get back under way at the Western and Southern Open, one of the few times since the tournament began in 1899 that it has not been held in the Cincinnati area.

Source: Daily Nation July 30, 2020 07:18 UTC