Isner says he’ll skip Australian Open because of COVID-19

The 35-year-old Greensboro native is ranked 25th in the world

John Isner, pictured in August, says he will skip the Australian Open this year. (Frank Franklin II / AP Photo)

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — John Isner says he’ll skip the Australian Open because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Isner disclosed his decision Monday night after losing to fellow American Sebastian Korda in the quarterfinals of the Delray Beach Open.

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Isner, 35, has two young children and said he wanted his family to travel together to “make it as much fun as possible on the road … because I won’t be playing tennis forever.” But that’s not possible because of the virus, he said, and going to Australia this year would have meant too much time away from his family.

Isner, a former top 10 player now ranked 25th, lost to Korda 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.