Coronavirus concerns have compelled another Grand Slam champion to depart the US Open field.Two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova has opted out of this month's Western & Southern Open, which will be played at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and the US Open, scheduled to start on August 31st."Due to an unfavorable situation caused by coronavirus, and therefore the inability get together all my team I made a difficult decision to refuse to participate in Cincinnati and the US Open," Kuznetsova posted on Instagram. "I feel very sad, because I have been waited for these tournaments so much, but the pandemic changes all plans."
In 2004, Kuznetsova defeated compatriot Elena Dementieva in the the US Open final to capture her first Grand Slam singles title. She reached the US Open doubles final the same year.
The 35 year-old Russian, who has failed to surpass the Flushing Meadows second round for six straight years, joins reigning US Open champion Rafael Nadal, world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka and former US Open semifinalists Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils in declining to take the trip to New York. Five-time US Open champion Roger Federer is also out for the season recovering from his second arthroscopic knee surgery of the year.Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve]]>
Richard Pagliaro. Richard Pagliaro is Tennis Now Managing Editor. He is a graduate of New York University and has covered pro tennis for more than 35 years. Richard was tennis columnist for Gannett Newspapers in NY, served as Managing Editor for TennisWeek.com and worked as a writer/editor for Tennis.com. He has been TennisNow.com managing editor since 2010.
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