Luksika Out of US Open Due to ‘Travel Woes’

Thailand's Luksika Kumkhum plays a return shot to Switzerland's Belinda Bencic during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in January in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Vincent Thian / Associated Press
Thailand's Luksika Kumkhum plays a return shot to Switzerland's Belinda Bencic during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in January in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Vincent Thian / Associated Press

NEW YORK — We’ve all been there: A delayed flight or traffic jam or some other transportation issue prevents us from getting to work on time. In the case of a professional tennis player from Thailand ranked in the top 100, a too-long trip meant skipping the U.S. Open.

Luksika Kumkhum pulled out of the year’s last Grand Slam tournament on Sunday, a day before she was scheduled to face Sofia Kinen of the United States in a first-round match.

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The official reason offered by the U.S. Tennis Association in a brief statement about the withdrawal was “travel difficulties.”

The 93rd-ranked Kumkhum has been competing at the Asian Games in Indonesia, finishing with the silver medal in mixed doubles on Saturday.

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Kumkhum was replaced in the draw at Flushing Meadows by Madison Brengle, an American who lost in qualifying.