Halep suffers Achilles injury

Originally published on 20/02/14

The world No.9 was in irresistible form as she beat three Top 10 players to lift the trophy at the Qatar Total Open last week, but revealed she was carrying the injury in Doha after she was forced to retire from her opening match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Halep, who is on a six-match winning streak against Top 10 opponents after beating Sara Errani, Agnieszka Radwanska and Angelique Kerber en route to the biggest title of her career last week, has been told to rest for 10 days.

"You cannot run, you cannot stop at the balls – it's not easy,” Halep said. “In the semi-finals in Doha last week I thought I would have to stop, but I wanted to do everything I could there, because it was the last matches. And then I wanted to try here [in Dubai], because I like to fight for my chances, but I just couldn't – after one set I realised it was too dangerous to continue. I was feeling the pain even more today.

"The physio said I should be okay after 10 days' break. So I will go home celebrate my tournament with my family and my friends, and just take a few days off. I cannot train with the injury. I might do swimming. I have to do physiotherapy and ultrasounds, things like that, and we'll see how that goes."

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