Simona Halep withdraws as Petra Kvitova and Johanna Konta win openers

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Johanna Konta celebrates

World No 1 Simona Halep withdrew from the final US Open warm-up event due to injury, while Petra Kvitova and Johanna Konta booked their places in the second round.

Just a day after finishing runner-up to Kiki Bertens at the Cincinnati Masters, Halep pulled out of the Connecticut Open in New Haven citing an Achilles injury.

“I really wanted to play it and I saw that many fans bought tickets to see me here, but I feel very sore with my Achilles, and I need some rest,” the Romanian said in a statement.

“I had so many matches in the last two weeks, so it’s tough. See you next year, and all the best.”

Third seed Kvitova held off Agnieszka Radwanska in her opening match as she claimed a 6-1, 7-6 (7-3).

Three-time champion Kvitova will take on Zarina Diyas next after the qualifier upset Maria Sakkari from Greece 6-4, 6-3.

British No 1 Konta claimed her first win in three matches against Laura Siegemund as she beat the German 6-2, 7-5 in one hour and 46 minutes.

“I just tried to knuckle down and keep doing the good things that I did do in the first set, and trust that that was going to bring me opportunities, and I took a couple,” Konta said.

Up next for the world No 46 is Carla Suarez Navarro, who upset eighth seed Barbora Strycova on Sunday.

The 20-year-old Aryna Sabalenka, who made the semi-finals in Cincinnati, claimed the big scalp of Sam Stosur as the Belarusian won 6-3, 6-2 to set up a clash against defending champion Daria Gavrilova.

Former world No 1 Karolina Pliskova was the biggest casualty as the Czech went down 6-1, 6-3 against Ekaterina Makarova

Dayana Yastremska, meanwhile, claimed a 6-0, 6-3 win over Danielle Collins while Camila Giorgi beat Ana Bogdan 6-3, 6-2.

Johanna Konta Simona Halep

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