Simona Halep suffers tear in left calf and ‘unsure of recovery time’ with French Open around the corner

WTA Tour

Shahida Jacobs
May 12, 2021

Simona Halep is in a race to be fit for the French Open after she picked up a calf injury during her Italian Open second-round match against Angelique Kerber.

In the battle of the former world No 1s, Halep comfortably took the opening set 6-1 and the second set was a mixed affair early on with both players breaking twice.

With Kerber serving at 3-3, 30-0, the Romanian pulled up and was in some discomfort as she massaged her calf.

She eventually hobbled to her chair with some assistance and the trainer was called, but she was unable to continue and retired with Kerber advancing to the last 16 for a match against Jeļena Ostapenko.

Not how they wanted this match to end 😔@AngeliqueKerber advances to the round of 16 after Halep is forced to retire due to injury.

Final score: 1-6, 3-3.#IBI21 pic.twitter.com/GdRxi1fx6C

— wta (@WTA) May 12, 2021

In a statement, Halep confirmed it was left-calf tear.

“Unfortunately, an ultrasound has revealed that I have a tear in my left calf,” the world No 3, who will now be in a race to be fit for the French Open, said. “I will get an MRI tomorrow to understand the injury in more detail, but at the moment, we are unsure of recovery time.

“I’m so disappointed to end my tournament in Rome like this, but I will do everything I can to take care of the injury and be back as soon as possible. Thanks so much for your support and I’ll keep you posted on my progress.”

Kerber cut a concerning figure throughout the ordeal and in the end helped Halep to bag her bags.

Helping a friend 💕@Simona_Halep, @AngeliqueKerber | #IBI21 pic.twitter.com/qgtqi5lL4Z

— wta (@WTA) May 12, 2021

“I was focusing more on my service game, because I start to play better in the second set. Then suddenly she called the trainer. I know that Simona is not calling trainers just like this,” the three-time Grand Slam winner said.

“I knew, ‘Okay, something happened.’ But I really didn’t see the moment, so I don’t know what exactly happened in the moment. But, of course, I was feeling so bad with her, because this is not the way I would like to finish a tough match against also a friend on the other side.”

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Angelique Kerber Simona Halep