Mentally exhausted and injured, Simona Halep opts to pull out of Stuttgart

World No 2 Simona Halep’s start to the clay-court season has been delayed as she needs to “relax and recover” after her Fed Cup exertions.
The reigning French Open champion was part of the Romanian team that narrowly missed out on reaching the Fed Cup finals for the first time in history as they lost 3-2 against France.
Halep won her two singles rubbers and then teamed up with Monica Niculescu in the doubles, but they lost against Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic.
She was due to kick off her clay-court campaign at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart this week, but has decided to take a breather.
“It happened against Garcia [in the second singles rubber] in the first set, when I fell down,” she is quoted as saying by WTAtennis.com. “I felt pain in the hip.
“If I’m not 100%, I don’t want to step on the court. I’m also exhausted mentally because I gave my everything in that tie.
“It feels bad because I gave everything. I’ve been very sad for the last two days. I’ve been through these moments many times, but I just need to relax and recover.”
However, she is expected to compete in Rome and Madrid in May.
She added: “I stopped because there’s a two-week break, so it’s enough time to recover. I just want to go home and relax myself.”
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
More from Tennis365:
-
-
EXCLUSIVE – Laura Robson: I want to earn a place back on the Fed Cup team
-
EXCLUSIVE – Clare Balding: Fed Cup success can inspire a boom in the women’s game
-
EXCLUSIVE – Judy Murray: I have no regrets over quitting Fed Cup role
-
Analysis: Grigor Dimitrov’s apparent endless decline down to struggles of identity, not quality
-
T365 Recall: When the pirate-pants wearing Rafael Nadal came of age on clay
-
Latest
-
Australian Open
Caroline Wozniacki gets Australian Open wildcard nod, but Emma Raducanu absent from initial list
Caroline Wozniacki to return to her “special place”, but it remains to be seen if Emma Raducanu will get a wildcard.
-
Tennis News
‘There is less than a 10% chance of seeing Rafael Nadal win Roland Garros’, claims former pro
A retired ATP pro has written off Nadal’s chances of winning a 15th French Open title.
-
Tennis News
Top coach makes huge prediction about Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz ahead of 2024 tennis season
Who will have the better season in 2024? Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner?
-
Tennis News
Coco Gauff’s Wimbledon loss likened to Serena Williams’ career-changing 2012 French Open defeat
Coco Gauff’s Wimbledon defeat may have been a blessing in disguise.
-
Tennis News
The 7 players to win ATP titles after saving a match point in 2023: Novak Djokovic, Hubert Hurkacz feature twice
Here is a look at the nine times players saved a match point en route to winning ATP titles in 2023.
-
Tennis News
Rafael Nadal backed to ‘find the rhythm’ as Roger Federer comeback comparison is made
A former ATP star is optimistic about Rafael Nadal’s comeback and used Roger Federer to illustrate his point.
-
Tennis News
Novak Djokovic has one big weakness – and here is why his opponents struggle to expose it on court
We look at why Djokovic has always struggled with his overheads at the net and what opponents could do to take advantage of that flaw.
-
Tennis News
Rising American star picks Novak Djokovic as his dream opponent ‘because he’s the GOAT’
An ATP up-and-comer would love to face Novak Djokovic as he thinks the Serbian is the GOAT.
-
Tennis News
Novak Djokovic hailed for helping young star in ‘wonderful act of kindness’ by former top pro
Novak Djokovic has been praised for his generosity by a top coach and former ATP star.
-
Tennis News
‘I still have faith in seeing Rafael Nadal win another Roland Garros title’, says former ATP star
Rafael Nadal has been backed to triumph at the French Open one last time by a former competitor.