Australian Open finalist Simona Halep will not be available to Romania this weekend in the Fed Cup game of World Group II against Canada. The world ranking rankings continue to suffer from the consequences of an ankle injury she sustained in Melbourne.
So quickly, great anticipation can turn into disillusionment. Just a few days ago Simona Halep had raved about the special emotions in the Fed Cup. The 26-year-old bundle of energy from Constanta had firmly assumed a mission for her country:”Every time I’ve done my best – and sometimes even played when I was injured.”
This time she wants to save her body from the torture. The ankle injury suffered at the Australian Open has not yet been cured, as Halep confirms via Facebook:”Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time to recover from the injury. I’m sorry I can’t play for Romania, but I’m still going to Cluj to support my team-mates.”
However, the hostesses’ role as favourites remains unaffected by the rejection of their top player. Against “Team Canada”, which travels to Transylvania without its number one nominee Eugenie Bouchard, the quartet led by Sorana Cirstea, Irina-Camelia Begu, Raluca Olaru and Ana Bogdan is clearly in pole position. Best player in the guest squad of captain Sylvain Bruneau is Carol Zhao, number 138 in the WTA ranking.
At the top-class Premier 5 tournament in Doha/Katar (from 12. February) Halep wants to intervene again.