Halep wins Italian Open after Plíšková retires from final

Top-seeded Simona Halep received her first Italian Open title on Monday when 2019 champion Karolína Plíšková retired halfway by means of the ultimate with a left thigh damage. Halep was main 6-0, 2-1 when Plíšková stopped enjoying after simply 31 minutes.

After Halep received the primary set, Plíšková had her decrease again handled by a coach. Plíšková additionally had her left thigh taped through the match.

“Disappointed for me not to finish today,” Plíšková stated through the trophy ceremony. “But Simo, obviously too strong. I always have to be 100% to play a good match against you. Congratulations for the whole week. I think you deserve the title.”

With the French Open beginning in six days, Halep wished Plíšková a speedy restoration. She then added with amusing, “Probably we will meet again there in the final.”

Both gamers wore face masks as they picked up their trophies themselves.

Halep, who misplaced the 2017 and 2018 Rome finals to Elina Svitolina, prolonged her good file in tennis’ restart to 10-0.

“In 2013 here I started to (reach) the top of world tennis,” Halep — now a two-time Grand Slam champion — stated, recalling her shock run to the semifinals that yr. “Since then I started to play really well and finally, after two finals, I could win this title.”

The second-ranked Halep improved to 14-Zero general stretching again to February, when she received a title in Dubai. After the tour’s five-month break due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Romanian returned by profitable one other trophy in Prague final month. She then skipped the U.S. Open due to journey and well being issues.

Due to the pandemic, a crowd of only one,000 followers was allowed contained in the 10,500-seat Campo Centrale stadium.

The match, which was rescheduled from its ordinary May slot because of the pandemic, additionally had lowered prize cash.

Halep collected a winner’s examine of 205,190 euros ($242,000) — down from the 523,858 euros ($616,000) awarded to Plíšková final yr.

Later Monday, Novak Djokovic will face Diego Schwartzman within the males’s remaining.