Svitolina, Bertens pull out of the US Open

Even though earlier this week the US Open proudly announced that nine of the Top 10 women in the world headline the initial women’s singles entry list, concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic have forced fifth-ranked Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and seventh-ranked Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands to opt out of traveling to New York.

Last year’s US Open semifinalist Svitolina informed her social media followers:

Considering all the aspects, I have decided to not play the US Open 2020. \u2063I 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…