Simona Halep out of Linz semi-finals with knee injury

The former world No 1 has suffered another injury blow

Tennis – WTA 250 – Upper Austria Ladies Linz – TipsArena Linz, Linz, Austria – November 9, 2021 Romania’s Simona Halep during her round of 16 match against Belarus’ Aliaksandra Sasnovich || 212221_0013 2021 linz sport tennis WTA

Carrie Dunn

November 11, 2021

Simona Halep has withdrawn from the semi-finals of the Linz Open due to a knee injury.

The tournament’s second seed was due to face Romanian compatriot Jaqueline Cristian on Thursday evening, but announced on social media that she would not be able to compete.

“Unfortunately I am not able to play in my semi-final after injuring my knee in my match yesterday,” she wrote on Twitter. “I would do anything to be able to play, but it is swollen and painful and playing will only make it worse.”

Unfortunately I am not able to play in my semifinal after injuring my knee in my match yesterday. I would do anything to be able to play, but it is swollen and painful and playing will only make it worse. I want to say a huge thank you to the tournament and fans here @WTALinz https://t.co/ZBeatUChbt
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) November 11, 2021

Halep was given a wildcard for the event; the 30-year-old is currently ranked world No 22, although she was ranked as high as second as recently as February. She missed a run of tournaments between May and August after tearing a calf muscle during her run to the round of 32 of the Internazionali BNL D’Italia, forcing her to retire from her match against Angelique Kerber.