Halep will not play at the US Open

Women's world No. 2 Simona Halep will not travel to New York to play in this year's US Open.

The 28-year-old cited the "exceptional circumstances in which we are living" in her statement on Twitter as part of her reasoning.

The Romanian, who won the Prague Open on Sunday, joins a growing list of female players who have decided against participating in this year's US Open.

The defending champion Bianca Andreescu and world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty have pulled out citing COVID-19 fears. Six-time US Open winner Serena Williams, as well as Naomi Osaka, Sofia Kenin and Karolina Pliskova, have all committed to playing.

In the men's competition, Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios have said they won't be playing in New York, while Novak Djokovic, Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev have all said they will be competing.

[Source: CNN]