Palermo, Jul 26 (AP) 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.

Also Read | ENG 13/0 in 7 Overs | Lunch Break | England vs West Indies Live Score Updates of 3rd Test 2020 Day 3: Hosts Lead By 185 Runs.

"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.

Also Read | CHE vs WOL Dream11 Prediction in Premier League 2019-20: Tips to Pick Best Team for Chelsea vs Wolves Football Match.

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 Martic of Croatia, No. 18 Markéta Vondroušová of the Czech Republic and No. 20 Maria Sakkari of Greece. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)