Reuters

World number two Simona Halep will make the final decision on her participation in the US Open after playing this week’s WTA Tour event in Prague, the Romanian said on Sunday.

Ashleigh Barty, number one in the world for women, has chosen not to travel to New York to play the Grand Slam on the hardcourt amid the COVID-19 pandemic, making Halep, 28, the main attraction of the this year’s event.

“I will decide after this tournament,” Halep told Reuters by phone, adding that conditions are “tough” in the United States.

“I need to feel, I need to see what changes they (the organizers of the US Open) are going to make with travel and stuff.

“And then I can decide, make the final decision.”

In addition to Barty, the women’s team has also lost 10 other top 10 players at No. 5, Elina Svitolina, and Kiki Bertens, No. 7, due to concerns about the pandemic.

The United States has more than 5 million COVID-19 cases and nearly 162,000 people have died, according to a Reuters tally.

Concerns remain about whether players would face a mandatory quarantine if they travel to Europe from the US for the clay-court events in September.

USTA organizers are creating a biosecurity “bubble” in New York with strict protocols to run the tournament starting August 31 without spectators.

“I know it’s very strict, it’s a bit stressful in my opinion,” Halep said from Prague.

“But they need those rules for safety, health is the most important thing, they have to take care of everyone. It’s hard for everyone to travel these days. But everyone can make their own decisions and they know their priority.

“My priority is my health, the mental part and I don’t want to stress about anything. My final decision, when I make it, will be based on these. ”

Halep is seeded at the Prague Open, where she will face Slovenian Polona Hercog in the first round.

“This break was not easy and we will fight a bit to get back,” Halep said, adding that he was happy to have been able to spend a “normal” life at home after the rigors of the Tour for many years.

He previously withdrew from the Palermo Ladies Open, which was the first Tour-level event played since the professional circuit closed in early March.

Halep said she was not mentally ready to play in Palermo, but felt “good” with the remaining clay-court events in Europe.

But I can’t decide now. I always decide closer to the tournaments, seeing the conditions and the rules ”, he added.