Injured Simona Halep withdraws from WTA Finals

After withdrawing from the ongoing Kremlin Cup, Romanian tennis star Simona Halep has now pulled out of the upcoming WTA Finals due to a back injury.

Halep, who retained the World number one position for the second consecutive year, had sustained disk hernia during a pre-tournament practice session in September at Wuhan Open.

Confirming the withdrawal, the 27-year-old said that it was a tough decision for her to take, but it would be better for her health.

"It's always difficult to withdraw from a big tournament. Actually, I think it's the first time in my life. So it was a tough decision but it's better for my health," WTA quoted Halep, as saying.

Halep, the only woman to have qualified in all five years for the WTA finals, had flown to Singapore in the hope that her injury might get moderate, but she said that she isn't ready to compete as her back is still sore.

She said, "My back is not ok. I didn't practice for the last four weeks. I'm not ready to compete at this level and I'm still sore. It's not easy to go on court and compete at this moment."

With Halep's withdrawal, World number 10 Netherlands' Kiki Bertens will make debut in the tournament, becoming the first Dutchwoman to compete at the WTA Finals in over 20 years.

The 2018 WTA Finals is slated to be held in Singapore from October 21 to 28.