World no.1 Ash Barty helps open new Cairns court after US Open withdrawal

Days after her decision to withdraw from the US Open, women's tennis world number one Ash Barty was back on the court Saturday to help open a new covered facility the Cairns International Tennis Centre.

Barty announced earlier in the week that she would not play in this year's US Open, saying she did not want her or her team exposed to the risk of travel to the United States while the country still grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.

"My team and I have decided that we won't be travelling to the US, and (the) Western and Southern Open and the US Open this year," Barty said in a statement.

"I love both events, so it was a difficult decision, but there are still significant risks involved due to COVID-19 and I don't feel comfortable putting my team and I in that position.

(Image Credit Pixabay)