Palermo Open "embittered" after Halep pulls out due to travel concerns

Jul 26, 2020
Tennis.com Interview

TEASER: Simona Halep describes pain of positive doping test in Wertheim interview

By David Kane May 03, 2024
Social

Simona Halep says her body 'needs a little more time to be ready' before more tournament play

By Baseline Staff Apr 21, 2024
Tennis.com Interview

Simona Halep is happy to provide an accountable explanation, while ready to move forward

By Jon Wertheim Apr 12, 2024

Simona Halep admits to feeling 'nervous' ahead of her return to tennis following doping appeal

By Associated Press Apr 10, 2024
Madrid, Spain

Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki receive Mutua Madrid Open wild cards

By David Kane Apr 03, 2024
Served Podcast

Kim Clijsters, Andy Roddick react to Caroline Wozniacki’s opinion on Simona Halep’s Miami wild card

By Liya Davidov Mar 25, 2024
Anti-Doping & Corruption

The number of suspicious tennis matches decreased in 2023, and there were none at Grand Slam tournaments

By Associated Press Mar 22, 2024
Miami, USA

"It felt really good": Vindicated or not, Simona Halep will make the most of her second career

By Steve Tignor Mar 20, 2024
Miami, USA

Triumphant even in defeat, Simona Halep reflects on journey back to Miami Open after doping ban

By Stephanie Livaudais Mar 20, 2024

Palermo Open "embittered" after Halep pulls out due to travel concerns

The world No. 2 also pointed to a rise in Romania's COVID-19 cases as part of her decision. Tournament director Oliviero Palma said, "We found out Halep’s decision with great bitterness. Yesterday we were optimistic."

Published Jul 26, 2020

Advertising

The Palermo Open is set to reopen the WTA tour in eight days but will be without its top attraction.

World No. 2 Simona Halep pulled out Sunday, citing a pair of coronavirus-related concerns.

“Given the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Romania and my anxieties around international air travel at this time, I have made the tough decision to withdraw from Palermo,” she tweeted. “I want to thank the tournament director and the Italian ministry of health for all efforts on my behalf.”

On Friday, Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza signed an order requiring anyone who traveled within Romania or Bulgaria the past 14 days to quarantine upon their arrival. Players competing in Palermo are exempt from the safety measure, according to the International event. Tournament director Oliviero Palma expressed his frustration over Halep’s withdrawal in a statement, later shared in a series of tweets.

Advertising

“We found out Halep’s decision with great bitterness. Yesterday we were optimistic, and we had informed Halep’s staff about the fact that professional players are not obliged to quarantine,” said Palma. “We are embittered and profoundly disappointed.”

The tournament hopes to welcome third-ranked Karolina Pliskova, with the Czech expected to decide by Tuesday on her participation. Halep, who triumphed in Dubai before the coronavirus shut down the WTA tour in early March, is entered to play the Prague Open the following week.