French Open champion Simona Halep has withdrawn from next week’s WTA event in Eastbourne due to achilles inflammation and pain, she said on Twitter on Wednesday.
The world No. 1, who won her first grand slam title in Paris after three final losses, said in her statement that doctors advised her to rest and continue treatment. It is hoped that will allow her achilles to “fully recover,” presumably in time for Wimbledon.
“I loved competing in Eastbourne last year and hope to see you at this wonderful event next year,” she added.
Halep’s withdrawal means she will enter SW19 without having played a tournament on grass. She reached the quarterfinals in Eastbourne last year, losing to Caroline Wozniacki, before also reaching the final eight at Wimbledon. The Romanian did not play a grass-court warm-up event two years ago, but appeared in Hertogenbosch prior to her lone Wimbledon semifinal in 2014.
Her absence leaves the WTA premier event with four top 10 players, including Wozniacki and defending champion Karolina Pliskova.
