Halep out of WTA Finals

WORLD No. 1 Simona Halep pulled out of next week’s WTA Finals yesterday due to a lower back injury, handing first alternate Kiki Bertens a spot at the season-ending eight-woman event in Singapore for the first time.

“The decision was tough for sure,” the 27-year-old Romanian said on her verified Twitter account of an injury sustained during training ahead of the Wuhan Open last month and later diagnosed as a herniated disc.

“It’s always difficult to withdraw from a big tournament. Actually, I think it’s the first time in my life. So it was a tough decision but it’s better for my health.

“My back is not ok. I didn’t practice for the last four weeks. I’m not ready to compete at this level and I’m still sore. It’s not easy to go on court and compete at this moment.”

Halep has enjoyed a stellar season, which saw her reach the Australian Open final before winning her maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open.

Despite withdrawing from Singapore, Halep is guaranteed to end 2018 as world No. 1 for the second year in a row.

In her absence, Bertens, who finished ninth in the Race to Singapore standings, will be making her WTA Finals debut in the last version of the event in Singapore after a five-year run in Southeast Asia.

The 26-year-old will be first Dutchwoman to compete at the season-ending showpiece in more than 20 years, since Brenda Schultz-McCarthy lost in the first round in 1997.

Angelique Kerber, Naomi Osaka, Petra Kvitova, Caroline Wozniacki, Sloane Stephens, Karolina Pliskova and Elina Svitolina have also qualified for the US$7 million event which will move to Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, next year.