Wimbledon champion Simona Halep has suffered a setback to her chances of reaching the WTA Finals later this year after she was forced to retire from the Wuhan Open on Wednesday.
The world No.6 called it quits 10 games into her match against Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina due to a back injury. Halep was initially neck and neck with her opponent as they exchanged a series of breaks before she called a medical time out and then eventually retired from the match.
“It’s lower back. I think it’s more muscle, but I don’t know yet because I haven’t checked it properly,” she said afterwards.
Halep’s withdrawal triggers flashbacks to 12 months ago when the Romanian was forced to end her 2018 season early due to a back problem. Although there is no indication yet that her latest problem is as severe as what she experienced last year. It is the second time Halep has been forced to retire from a match this season. The first took place last month at the Rogers Cup when a leg injury sidelined her from action.
“At 4-4, 0-30 with the backhand, I had a sharp pain,” she explained.
“I don’t know yet, but it looks a little bit different [to the injury I had before], but it’s still the same zone.
“I started to play well this tournament. I’m disappointed it happened again with the back.”
The 27-year-old is yet to win back-to-back matches since her triumph over Serena Williams at Wimbledon. Overall, her win-loss record since the grand slam currently stands at 5-4.
Capitalising on Halep’s misfortunes, Rybakina moves into the quarter-finals of a Premier event for the first time in her career. The world No.50 clinched her maiden WTA title earlier this year in Bucharest and more recently reached the final of the Nanchang Open. She will next play either Aryna Sabalenka or Kiki Bertens.
“Of course, I didn’t want to win the match like this,” wtatennis.com quoted Rybakina as saying. “The worst thing that can happen to an athlete is injuries – I wish Simona a speedy recovery and I’m just happy to be in the quarters.”
Svitolina impresses
There was better news for third seed Elina Svitolina in her third round match. The Ukrainian breezed her way past former US Open champion Svetlana Kuztnetsova 6-4, 6-2, in just 76 minutes. Breaking the Russian five times in the match and winning 77% of her first service points. Svitolina also produced 16 winners to 15 unforced errors.
“It was quite up and down in the first set. I think Svetlana came back and played some good tennis. I think at 5-4 it was an important game for me to serve it out.” Svitolina said during her on-court interview.
“Then I was quite comfortable from the baseline to win the match.”
“I think I was serving good today and striking the ball good.” She added.
Kuznetsova is the second grand slam champion to lose to Svitolina this week in China. The first was Garbine Muguruza, who was knocked out of the tournament on Tuesday.
Despite being ranked third in the world, Svitolina is yet to claim a title on the tour this year. Her last appearance in a WTA final was when she won the 2018 WTA Finals in Singapore. Almost a year ago.
Sviotolina will play either eighth seed Wang Qiang or Alison Riske in the quarter-finals. Should she win her next match, it will be her best run in Wuhan since 2014.
