Halep steps down from the women's tennis round in Palermo

The increase in COVID-19 cases in Romania and his own “anxieties about international air travel” are the reasons argued by Simona Halep to make the decision of not be in the tournament that will mark the return of the WTA circuit in Palermo, from 3 to 9 August. The announcement comes shortly after Italy's health minister signed an ordinance on Friday requiring everyone who has stayed in Romania or Bulgaria in the past 14 days to be quarantined if they want to enter the country, even though athletes high level are exempt from this measure.

It was Virginia Ruzici, manager of Halep, who informed the organizers of the Palermo Open that the number two in the world, 28, would not participate in the event, a news that did not sit well with them. “We were filled with regret when they informed us,” said tournament director Oliviero Palma. “We spoke to Halep staff in detail about the fact that professional players should not have to go into quarantine. However, their people told us that the decision had already been made. We are discouraged and deeply upset,” Palma added.

Palma also stated that the Regional Health Minister had sent Halep a notice explaining that the Italian Government ordinance it does not apply to workers and therefore to professional athletes. Thus, Johanna Konta (14th), Petra Martic (15th), Marketa Vondrousova (18th) and Maria Sakkari (20th) are now the main names in the tournament.