Italian Open: Simona Halep through to quarter-finals as Madison Keys withdraws due to injury

Romanian tennis player, Simona Halep, has been handed a walkover into the Internazionali BNL d’Italia quarterfinals after Madison Keys was forced to withdraw with a right rib injury.

No.1 seed Simona Halep’s defence of her top ranking was boosted on Thursday after No.13 seed Madison Keys withdrew from their third-round match at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia with a right rib injury, wtatennis.com reports.

The Romanian, a finalist here last year, needed to both reach the quarterfinals in Rome and progress further than World No.2 Caroline Wozniacki to retain her place at the summit, and has now accomplished the former task.

Keys, the 2016 runner-up in Rome, withdrew from both singles and doubles, in which she was partnering Venus Williams and due to face Raquel Atawo and Anna-Lena Groenefeld later today.

“I am really sorry I have to withdraw from this year’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia,” the American said in a statement. “I felt my rib in my match yesterday and after trying to warm up this morning it will still painful. I look forward to returning to this great event next year and seeing all my fans in Rome.”

On Wednesday, Simona Halep, 1st WTA, defeated Naomi Osaka (Japan, 21st WTA) 6-1, 6-0 on Wednesday, at the Italian Open, in only 59 minutes.

Halep did not play the first round at the Internazionali BNL D’Italia tournament, whereas Osaka defeated in the first round Viktoria Azarenka (Belarus, 84th WTA) 6-0, 6-3.

Romanian tennis player, Irina Begu, was defeated on Wednesday by Angelique Kerber (11th seeded) 3-6, 7-5, 7-5, failing to qualify to the third round.

On Tuesday, Begu, qualified to the second round after defeating Shuai Peng (China) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

On the other hand, Sorana Cirstea was defeated by Danielle Collins (US, 47th WTA) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.