Romania’s Simona Halep will officially end the season as world No.1 for the second year in a row as she current deals with an ongoing injury issue.
The 27-year-old is the 13th player in history to have finished at the top of the WTA rankings. It is the second consecutive time Halep has done so and the first time a player has achieved the double since Serena Williams (2014 and 2015). 2018 has seen Halep win her first ever grand slam title at the French Open when she defeated Sloane Stephens in the final. She was also runner-up to Caroline Wozniacki at the Australian Open. Outside of the majors, she has also won titles in Shenzhen, China and Montreal, Canada. Resulting in Halep’s win-loss record on the tour this year currently standing at 46-11.
“Finishing the season as the WTA World No.1 last year was a huge honor for me,” Halep told wtatennis.com. “To do it for a second time in 2018 feels like a special achievement, especially having also won my first Grand Slam this year. To be able to see my name again alongside the other legends who have achieved the year-end No.1 ranking makes me very proud.”
Halep is guaranteed to stay at the top of the rankings until at least January. When the 2018 season ends, she would have spent 53 weeks as world No.1. The tenth longest stint in the history of women’s tennis. Surpassing Victoria Azarenka (51 weeks), Amelie Mauresmo (39 weeks), Maria Sharapova (21 weeks) and Kim Clijsters (20 weeks).
“These girls were my idols and my role models,” Halep told reporters in Moscow. “They inspired me all the time. So to be up there means a lot and gives me confidence that I was able to do something huge in tennis. It makes me proud.”
Halep first topped the WTA rankings in October 2017. She is currently ranked eighth on the all-time list for most prize money won on the WTA Tour with earnings of $27,095,579 (as of October 15th, 2018).
Injury threatens Singapore hopes
With less than a month before the season ends for the women, Halep has admitted that she is unsure about playing at the WTA Finals in Singapore. The Romanian is currently suffering from a herniated disc in her back. She is hoping to stage a return at the Kremlin Cup this week in Moscow, but admits that it is uncertain if she will play.
“I haven’t practised 100 per cent yet but today, tomorrow, I will do close to 100,” she explained. ” I will be able to know better the next day.
“The doctor told me it’s nothing about the surgery but, if I will keep playing, there is a risk of long-term injury. I don’t need that and I don’t want that, so I have to make good decisions in the next days.”
Should she pull out of Moscow, it is unlikely that Halep will play at the WTA Finals. An end-of-year round-robin tournament that features the eight best players in the world. Halep has featured in the event every year since 2014, but has only managed to progress beyond the group stages once.
“I hope first to be able to play here (in Moscow) because … I have already three-four days getting ready for this tournament,” Halep said. “But if I will not be able to play here, I’m very doubtful that I will be able to play in Singapore because it’s very fast.
“So I don’t know now but, for sure, I will take a decision for my health first.”
The WTA Finals will get underway on October 21st. It will be held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
