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World No.1 Halep fit and rested after ‘scary’ back injury
SYDNEY, Jan 6, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – World number one Simona Halep Sunday
admitted a back injury that ended her 2018 season early was “very scary”, but
she has recovered and is feeling fit heading into the new season.
The Romanian hasn’t played since withdrawing from the WTA Finals in
Singapore in October with a herniated disc, and said she did nothing for six
weeks to get over it.
“It was very scary because it was below the back, so it’s always
dangerous. But I had treatment at home, I rested for about six weeks and I
did nothing, just exercises for the back,” she told reporters ahead of the
Sydney International this week.
“I didn’t have pain while I was practising this period, off-season. So now
I feel confident and it’s okay. But I need to see during the official match.
“I feel relaxed, I feel rested, I feel healthy with the back. But as I
said, I didn’t play a match yet so I don’t know for sure how it’s going to
be.”
The early finish to 2018 was a disappointing end to a spectacular season,
which saw the 27-year-old secure the year-end number one ranking for the
second year running.
She got off to a stellar start, reaching the Australian Open final and
went on to win the Shenzhen Open, the Rogers Cup and her debut Grand Slam
crown at Roland Garros.
But it was also a year in which she split with Australian coach Darren
Cahill, who is taking a break to spend time with his family.
She is yet to replace him and doesn’t plan to do so for at least the next
few months.
“(Cahill) was a very big part of my career and I want to thank him for
that. Together we won the Grand Slam that we always wished for,” she said.
“It’s going to be tough. And it was tough, the off-season, without a
coach, without Darren. But he decided this and I fully understood because
family comes first always.”
Halep has a bye in the first round at Sydney.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1201 hrs