Second-ranked Simona Halep withdrew from the Palermo Ladies Open Sunday following a quarantine ordinance issued by Italy�s health ministry.

�Given the recent rise in Covid19 cases in Romania and my anxieties around international air travel at this time, I have made the tough decision to withdraw from Palermo,� Halep tweeted. �I want to thank the tournament director and the Italian ministry of health for all efforts on my behalf.�

The Aug. 3-9 tournament announced Sunday that the Romanian player�s manager, Virginia Ruzici, had informed Palermo officials of the decision.

The move comes after Italy�s health minister on Friday signed an ordinance requiring all those who have in the last 14 days stayed in Romania or Bulgaria to quarantine.
�We were filled with regret when informed of the news,� tournament director Oliviero Palma said. �We had informed Halep�s staff in detail about the fact that professional players shouldn�t have to go into quarantine.

�But nevertheless Halep�s staff informed us when their decision was already taken. We are disheartened and deeply upset,� Palma added.

Palma also said that a regional health minister had sent Halep a notice explaining that the government ordinance does not apply to workers, and therefore to professional athletes.

Halep was going to be the headline player for the clay-court tournament, the first professional tour-level tennis event following a five-month break for the coronavirus pandemic.

Four other top-20 players remain entered: No. 14 Johanna Konta of Britain, No. 15 Petra Marti? of Croatia, No. 18 Mark�ta Vondrou�ov� of the Czech Republic and No. 20 Maria Sakkari of Greece.