Another former major champion pulls out of US Open

The organizers of the tennis Grand Slam have confirmed on Monday 25th August 25, 2020 that Jelena Ostapenko, 23, Former French Open champion, has pulled out of the US Open.

Ostapenko just made the sixth of the world’s top 10 women to have withdrawn from the US Open which commences next week.

Making the list of those who have pulled out of the New York event are Bianca Andreescu, a defending champion, the top-ranked Ash Barty, world No. 2 Simona Halep, Elina Svitolina, Kiki Bertens and Belinda Bencic.

With the battle against the spread coronavirus yet unfinished, the event would be played in ‘bio-secure bubble’ in order protect against the deadly virus.

Ostapenko currently grapples with No. 42 in the world’s ranking. In her career-high WTA ranking, In 2018, she was No. 5 in singles while in 2020 she was No.17 in doubles.

She won her only major in 2017, becoming the first Latvia player to ever win the Grand Slam tournament. She was seen on the WTA Tour in February at the Qatar where she last played reaching the final 16.