Simona Halep
Simona Halep

Simona Halep '50-50' for French Open at Roland Garros


Title favourite Simona Halep could miss the French Open after a scan revealed ankle ligament damage.

The Romanian world number four suffered the injury in the final of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome last weekend.

In a post on Instagram accompanied by pictures of her receiving treatment to her right ankle, Halep wrote: "Arriving early in Paris for treatment.

"The MRI scan shows a torn ligament from the fall in Roma. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for RG (Roland Garros) and will do everything possible to be ready.

"Doctors say it's 50-50 at the moment but it's made good improvement since Sunday. Thank you for all of the support the last few weeks. We are remaining very positive."

Halep has emerged as the strongest player on clay this season in a wide-open field, defending her title at the Madrid Open before reaching the final in Rome, and heads the betting ahead of the start of the tournament on Sunday.

The 2014 runner-up was able to practise in Paris on Wednesday but had limited movement following her fall in the first set against Elina Svitolina.

Halep was leading 5-2 when she tripped and rolled her ankle and Svitolina went on to win the match 4-6 7-5 6-1.

Also on Wednesday, French Open dark horse Laura Siegemund retired from her match at the WTA event in Nuremburg with a knee injury.

Backed from as big as 200/1 to a current 33/1 for the season's second grand slam, Siegemund is considered by some to be a genuine contender at the French Open having progressed rapidly over the past 12 months.

But her participation may now be in doubt following a nasty-looking fall, which saw the German carried off on a stretcher.

Star names Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will be missing from the field, but hopes of Petra Kvitova playing were boosted when she flew to Paris on Wednesday.

The Czech has not played a match since suffering a serious hand injury in a stabbing by an intruder at her home in Prostejov in December.

Kvitova will make a last-minute decision whether to play at Roland Garros and will speak to the media at a press conference on Friday.

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