Season comes to unfortunate end for Simona Halep in Austria
Simona Halep had reached the semi-finals of the Linz Open and was looking to claim a first title in 2021 at the WTA 250 event.
The two-time Slam champion came through a battling encounter with Italian Jasmine Paolini in the quarter-finals to come through 4-6, 7-5, 6-0.
Halep was scheduled to face compatriot Jaqueline Cristian for a place in the final, but has been forced to withdraw ahead of the match due to injury.
Apparently, her battle with Paolini was too tough, as she sustained left knee injury during that showdown according to the tournament’s official Twitter.
“We wish you a very speedy recovery!” they said in the tweet. “Linz loves you! Please come back soon!”
Unfortunately, @Simona_Halep ๐ท๐ด has to withdraw from her semifinals tonight after injuring her left knee in her match on Wednesday! We wish you a very speedy recovery, Simo! Linz loves you! Please come back soon! โค๏ธโ๐ฉน@WTA | #wtalinz pic.twitter.com/yOkfQFTUSj
โ WTA Linz (@WTALinz) November 11, 2021
Injury has hampered Halep on and off in 2021, most notably at the Italian Open in May.
As defending champion, she faced Angelique Kerber in the second round. After being a set up and at 3-3 in the second, Halep was forced to retire from the match.
The injury eventually sidelined her for nearly three months. As a result, she was unable to defend her 2019 Wimbledon title, missing the 2021 tournament.
Since then, she reached the final of the Transylvania Open at home in Romania, losing to Anett Kontaveit there.
Halep was hoping to make it back-to-back finals on tour by reaching the final in Austria.
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