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ROME – Seeded Simona Halep gave her preparations for the French Open a boost when she won the Italian Open in Rome on Monday after second-seeded Karolina Pliskova withdrew from the final with injury when she was down 6-0 2-1.
The victory gave Halep his first title in Rome and his third consecutive title of the year after victories in Dubai, before the COVID-19 hiatus, and Prague last month.
Pliskova tried to continue playing after receiving treatment on her lower back and leg between sets, but ultimately decided to retire, unwilling to take any chances before the French Open that begins on September 27.
Halep took a 5-0 lead in the first set, breaking the defending Czech champion three times and the Romanian also saved three break points with 0-40 down in the fourth game.
Halep, who even shook off a heavy knockdown in the second game, was aggressive and disciplined at her best, while Pliskova looked sluggish with her movement on the court, not achieving a single winner as she was crushed in 20 minutes.
The limited number of fans allowed on the Foro Italico center court urged Pliskova to turn it into a contest, applauding the rare points she scored on the scoreboard, and it seemed to work as the second set started with the pair breaking apart. – Reuters
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