Defending champion Andreescu pulls out of US Open

Bianca Andreescu has declined to defend her US Open title in 2020.

The 20-year-old Canadian announced on Thursday that she would not be playing the US Open this year.

The 2020 US Open will take place behind closed doors in New York from 31 August-13 September.

Andreescu wrote:

‘I have taken this step in order to focus on my match fitness and ensure that I return ready to play at my highest level.’

Andreescu stormed to the title in 2020 ranked world no. 15, defeating Caroline Wozniacki and Belinda Bencic before stunning Serena Williams 6-3, 7-5 in the final to become Canada’s first Grand Slam champion in singles.

She rose as high as world no. 4 in the rankings afterwards but only played two more events in 2019.

Prior to the suspension of the ATP, WTA and ITF Tours which occurred midway through March and which has only recently been lifted, Andreescu had not played a single match in 2020.

WTA Tour tennis returned two weeks ago with Simona Halep and Serena Williams among those in action this week at WTA events taking place behind closed doors in Prague, Czech Republic and Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

US Open 2020: Tournament information, schedules, live streaming and latest news

Andreescu wrote:

‘[T]he unforeseen challenges, including the Covid pandemic, have compromised my ability to prepare and compete to the degree necessary to play at my highest level.’

Bianca Andreescu pulls out of the #USOpen. pic.twitter.com/kA0MWfKblD

— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) August 13, 2020

Andreescu is the fourth WTA top-10 player to pull out of the US Open, following world no. 1 Ashleigh Barty, world no. 5 Elina Svitolina and world no. 7 Kiki Bertens.

The men’s defending champion will also be absent after Rafael Nadal pulled out of the US Open last week. Roger Federer, Gael Monfils, Nick Kyrgios and Stan Wawrinka are among other top men’s players not competing.

However Novak Djokovic confirmed today that he will be playing the Western & Southern Open and US Open, and Andy Murray has taken a wildcard into the main draw, along with fellow former champion Kim Clijsters.