Ash Barty pulls out of French Open, with Qld borders partly to blame
Queensland’s border closures have been partly to blame, for the women’s tennis world number one pulling out of the French Open.
Ash Barty has declared she won’t be back to defend her title in Europe, meaning she’ll spend the rest of the year in Australia.
She posted the news on Instagram this morning, saying it was a very difficult decision for her, but there were two main reasons that she’s decided to stay put.
“Last year’s French Open was the most special tournament of my career so this is not a decision I have made lightly.
“There are two reasons for my decision. The first is the health risks that still exist with Covid.
“The second is my preparation, which has not been ideal without my coach being able to train with me due to the state border closures in Australia,” her post reads.
Barty will now enjoy a long preseason and summer in Australia, and has wished fellow competitors well for the tournament.
“It has been a challenging year for everyone and although I am disappointed on a tennis front, the health and well-being of my family and my team will always be my priority,” her post reads.
