By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday August 13, 2020
World No.6 Bianca Andreescu is the WTA's Top 10 player to withdraw from the 2020 US Open.
Photo Source: USO
For the first time since 2003, both defending singles champions will miss the US Open.
2019 champion Bianca Andreescu, who became the first player to win the US Open on her debut last season, has announced that she will not play in 2020.
“After many discussions with those closest to me, I have made the difficult decision not to return to New York this year,” she wrote on social media. “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.”
Not since Pete Sampras announced his retirement on the opening night of the 2003 Open which Serena Williams had already withdrawn from (knee surgery), have both the men’s and singles champions not been present to defend their titles.
Already four Top 10 players on the women’s side have pulled out of the Open – World No. 1 Ash Barty, World No.5 Elina Svitolina, World No.6 Andreescu and World No.7 Kiki Bertens.
“The US Open victory last year has been the high point of my career thus far and I will miss not being there,” Andreescu said. “However, I realize that the unforeseen challenges, including the Covid pandemic, have compromised my ability to prepare and compete to the degree necessary to play at my highest level. I want to express my appreciation to the USTA and the WTA for all of their efforts in making the event happen. I look forward to joining my competitors back on court soon.”