Next stop, U.S. Open.
World No.1 Simona Halep pulled out of this week’s Connecticut Open in New Haven on Monday, citing a right achilles injury.
The Romanian is fresh off back-to-back finals in Montreal and Cincinnati. Halep won the title in Montreal, defeating Sloane Stephens in a dramatic final, but she had her nine-match winning streak snapped on Sunday she fell to Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens in the final.
Halep failed to convert a championship point in the second-set tiebreaker and later said that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“I had match ball,” she told reporters in Cincinnati on Sunday. “So I was there. Didn't take my chance. So in the third set I was empty and I couldn't fight anymore.”
Halep drops to 46-8 on the season with three titles. The World No.1 is assured of remaining at No.1 through the U.S. Open and she leads Angelique Kerber by 1878 points in the Race to Singapore standings.
“I had two great weeks, I didn’t expect those weeks to be so good,” said Halep. “I really wanted to play here. … but I have to rest.”