AP Interview: Palermo Open to mark the return of tennis
FILE -- In this May 30, 2018 file photo Romania's Simona Halep slams a forehand to Alison Riske of the U.S. during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris. With second-ranked Simona Halep joined by 2017 French Open champion Jeļena Ostapenko and last year’s Roland Garros finalist Markéta Vondroušová, this year’s Palermo Ladies Open, the Aug. 3-9 event marking the return of tour-level tennis following a five-month break for the coronavirus pandemic, will be like no other. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

FILE -- In this May 30, 2018 file photo Romania's Simona Halep slams a forehand to Alison Riske of the U.S. during their first round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris. With second-ranked Simona Halep joined by 2017 French Open champion Jeļena Ostapenko and last year’s Roland Garros finalist Markéta Vondroušová, this year’s Palermo Ladies Open, the Aug. 3-9 event marking the return of tour-level tennis following a five-month break for the coronavirus pandemic, will be like no other. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Jul. 24, 2020 06:41 AM EDT
FILE -- In this June 8, 2017 file photo Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko plays a shot against Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland during their semifinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France. With second-ranked Simona Halep joined by 2017 French Open champion Jeļena Ostapenko and last year’s Roland Garros finalist Markéta Vondroušová, this year’s Palermo Ladies Open, the Aug. 3-9 event marking the return of tour-level tennis following a five-month break for the coronavirus pandemic, will be like no other. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

FILE -- In this June 8, 2017 file photo Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko plays a shot against Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland during their semifinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France. With second-ranked Simona Halep joined by 2017 French Open champion Jeļena Ostapenko and last year’s Roland Garros finalist Markéta Vondroušová, this year’s Palermo Ladies Open, the Aug. 3-9 event marking the return of tour-level tennis following a five-month break for the coronavirus pandemic, will be like no other. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Jul. 24, 2020 06:36 AM EDT
FILE -- In this June 11, 2017 file photo Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko poses with the trophy during a photo call one day after winning the women's final match of the French Open tennis tournament, in Paris, France. With second-ranked Simona Halep joined by 2017 French Open champion Jeļena Ostapenko and last year’s Roland Garros finalist Markéta Vondroušová, this year’s Palermo Ladies Open, the Aug. 3-9 event marking the return of tour-level tennis following a five-month break for the coronavirus pandemic, will be like no other. (AP Photo/David Vincent)

FILE -- In this June 11, 2017 file photo Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko poses with the trophy during a photo call one day after winning the women's final match of the French Open tennis tournament, in Paris, France. With second-ranked Simona Halep joined by 2017 French Open champion Jeļena Ostapenko and last year’s Roland Garros finalist Markéta Vondroušová, this year’s Palermo Ladies Open, the Aug. 3-9 event marking the return of tour-level tennis following a five-month break for the coronavirus pandemic, will be like no other. (AP Photo/David Vincent)

Jul. 24, 2020 06:39 AM EDT