2017 Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko, has pulled out of the upcoming US Open in Flushing Meadow as a result of a change of schedule, the announcement was made on Monday.
She becomes the latest player with a Grand Slam title or high ranking to withdraw from the event which kicks next week in New York, amid the global pandemic.
Six of the top eight in the WTA rankings, including world number one Ashleigh Barty, world number 2 Simona Halep, world number 6 and 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, and Netherland’s Kiki Bertens amongst others.
It was also confirmed on Monday that Carla Suarez Navarro, who was fined last year at the US Open for what was deemed a lack of effort, after retiring from her first-round match with a lower-back injury, also pulled out of the tournament.
With the recent news of the two withdrawals, Kurumi Nara and Whitney Osuigwe are now in the main draw, after a wild-card invitation to Osuigwe was given to 16-year-old Californian Katrina Scott by the United States Tennis Association.
