‘Pullouts will not take shine off US Open’

American star Serena says top players’ withdrawal won’t affect tournament

NEW YORK:

Serena Williams believes the withdrawal of some of the world's top tennis players from this year's US Open amid the Covid-19 pandemic will not take the shine off a potential record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title for her.

Six of the top 10 women's players, including defending champion Bianca Andreescu and world number 1 Ash Barty, have dropped out of the Aug. 31-Sept. 13 US Open, boosting Williams' chance of winning the major for the first time since 2014.

"It still has to be tennis that's played, asterisks or not," the six-time US Open champion told reporters on Friday. "I think this whole year deserves an asterisk, because it's such a special year - history we have never been through in this world."

"I think we are living a future history lesson. I think regardless, there is always going to be some asterisk by it, because it's never been done before.

"If you win, it was, like, wow, I was able to win in this crazy circumstance where there was no fans. It was just so sterile and weird, but I mentally came through. It might be a more mental test than anything."

Williams, who has a history of blood clots and pulmonary embolisms, said she had concerns over travelling to New York and is living in a rented house instead of the official players' hotel as a precaution.

"I have health issues and I don't necessarily want to get sick, and if I do, I want the good version," she said.

"I didn't want to be in the hotel because I have lung issues and felt it was a big risk for me personally. In a house, I can control more. I needed to put my mind at rest so that I could perform."

Nishikori tests positive again

Kei Nishikori's hopes of playing at the US Open have faded further after the Japanese former world number four revealed he had tested positive for Covid-19 for a second time.

The 30-year-old, a finalist at Flushing Meadows in 2014, withdrew from the Western & Southern Open hardcourt warm-up after his first positive test last week.

"Just a little update, I just took another Covidtest and am still positive. I have very minimal symptoms and am staying in full isolation in Florida," Nishikori posted on social media late on Friday.

"The next test will be early next week at which time we will update you with more information."

Nishikori, who has been staying at the IMG Academy in Florida, has enjoyed his greatest Grand Slam success at the US Open, reaching the semi-finals in 2016 and 2018 in addition to his loss to Marin Cilic in the 2014 title-decider.

The US Open starts on Aug. 31 but a string of top players have withdrawn over fears of contracting the novel coronavirus, which has infected more than 5.6 million people and killed 175,397 in the United States. Defending champions RafaNadal and Bianca Andreescu as well as women's world number one Ash Barty are among those who have decided not to travel to New York.