Shortly after receiving a wildcard entry for the April 15-21 Oeiras Ladies Open, it was revealed that Simona Halep has withdrawn from the WTA 125 tournament due to an injury.
The former world No.1 was scheduled to compete in her second tournament following her return from a doping ban. However, she feels pain in her knee, prompting her to prioritize health and withdraw from the event.
For now, her participation at the Mutua Madrid Open later in April still stands. Actually, the Romanian decided to skip Oeiras in order not to risk missing the Spanish WTA 1000 event that she won twice.
In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Halep discussed the anxiety and mental pressure she faced upon returning to the Hologic WTA Tour. “What I went through is not easy. So I cannot forget, like this,” the 32-year-old said, snapping her fingers, “just because I got cleared. There is baggage that probably will stay longer, and I cannot forget, like, one day (to the next) what happened. So I have to handle it better. I have to control my emotions coming back. So there is a (lot) that is not easy. But the joy, I hope, will help me.” (source: AS.ro)
