Wuhan Open: Simona Halep retires with injury

HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP

Wimbledon champion Simona Halep has retired from the Wuhan Open after suffering a lower back injury.

Despite the intervention of a physiotherapist, she was forced to withdraw when trailing 5-4 in the first set against the Kazakh wildcard.

Meanwhile, Ashleigh Barty defeated Sofia Kenin 6-3, 7-5 to secure a place in the quarterfinals.

Third seed Elina Svitolina also progressed against Svetlana Kuznetsova.

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