Simona Halep has withdrawn from this weekend’s Fed Cup tie between Romania and Belgium in Bucharest due to an ongoing knee injury.
Doubts surrounding Halep’s appearance in the upcoming Fed Cup clash began last week when she withdrew from the St. Petersburg Open in Russia. The world No.5 has been troubled by tendonitis in her knee since the start of the year. She has attributed the issue towards her below-par start to the season, including a first round loss at the Australian Open last month.
“I’m really disappointed that I had to withdraw from the quarter-final, but my knee is not okay,” Halep said about her St. Petersburg withdrawal.
“After my last match I felt pain and I feel it’s risky to continue here.”
The persistent knee injury is one that has contributed to Halep’s decision to not play any tournament in February. Speaking to Romanian media about her latest tournament withdrawal, the former French Open finalist aims to be fully fit in time for the American swing of the tour, which features back-to-back Premier tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami.
“I will not play Fed Cup, Doha and Dubai. I decided to take this break to perform in the US at Indian Wells and Miami.” She told Digisport.
Last year the 25-year-old suffered early losses in Doha and Dubai and has few points to defend over the coming weeks prior to Indian Wells.
Halep will enter March with only two wins on the tour this season after also suffering a shock second round loss at the Shenzhen Open, her first tournament of 2017.
Replacing Halep in the Fed Cup will be world No.106 Patricia Maria Țig. Tig will join Irina-Camelia Begu, Monica Niculescu and Sorana Cirstea in the Group II tie. Romania will play Belgium for the first time since 1995 and hopes to get their first ever win over the country. They currently trail 0-3 in their head-to-head with Belgium.
Halep’s 2017 season so far
Shenzhen Open
R1: def Jelena Jankovic SRB 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
R2: lost to Katerina Siniakova CZE 3-6, 6-4, 5-7
Australian Open
R1: Lost to Shelby Rogers USA 3-6, 1-6
St. Petersburg Open
R1: Bye
R2: def Ana Konjuh CRO 6-4, 7-6(2)
QF: withdrew
