Halep earns 2nd straight No. 1 ranking

LONDON — Simona Halep is back as the year-end No. 1 for the second year in a row, despite a back injury that doctors say could lead to a long-term problem.

Halep, who won her first major title at this year's French Open, clinched the year-end top tennis ranking on Monday but may be forced to pull out of the upcoming Kremlin Cup and the season-ending WTA Finals because of a herniated disk.

"I haven't practiced 100 percent yet but today, tomorrow, I will do close to 100," Halep said in a conference call, "and 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."

The 27-year-old Halep had her best year on tour in 2018, reaching the Australian Open final and then winning her first Grand Slam title a few months later at Roland Garros. But she announced at the start of this month that she had an MRI exam after retiring from her firstround match at the China Open and the herniated disk problem was found.

The Kremlin Cup runs this week and the WTA Finals, which is for the top eight players in the world, begin in Singapore on October 21.

"I hope first to be able to play here (in Moscow) because ... I have already 3-4 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."

Despite the injury, Halep is still relishing in her season. She has been at the top of the rankings for nearly the entire year even though her results suffered as the season wore on.