(Reuters) – Former French Open champion Simona Halep retired from her Italian Open second-round match against Angelique Kerber on Wednesday with a calf injury, raising doubts over her participation at Roland Garros.
Third seed Halep was leading 6-1 3-3 when she showed discomfort while trying to reach a first serve from her German opponent.
Halep massaged her left calf before hobbling to her bench, where she received treatment from a physio.
Unable to move, Halep decided to withdraw from the match and needed assistance to get off the court, causing doubt over whether she would be fit in time for the French Open, which begins on May 30.
Kerber will next face another former French Open winner, Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko, in the round of 16.
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)
