Halep retires due to injury against Rybakina, Svitolina and Barty both move into Quarter-Finals in Wuhan

Simona Halep has had to withdraw from a tournament on the Asian hard-court swing for a second week running this time at the Wuhan Open.

Halep had to withdraw last week due to an ankle injury in Zhengzhou but this time it is lower back she said afterwards.

Her opponent Elena Rybakina was 5-4 up in the first set at the time and has now claimed one of her biggest wins of her breakout season.

“It’s a lower back [injury],” Halep told journalists afterwards. “I think it’s more muscle, but I don’t know yet because I didn’t check it properly. [At] 4-all, 0-30, with the backhand. I had a sharp pain.

“I don’t know yet [if it’s the same as the previous injury]. It looks a little bit different but it’s still the same zone.”

Elina Svitolina and Ashleigh Barty are both into the Quarter-Finals as well after easing past their respective tests. Svitolina saw off Svetlana Kuznetsova in an one hour and 16 minutes as she looks to edge closer to confirming her spot in Shenzhen at the WTA Finals.

It was another impressive display from the Ukrainian who weathered the storm at times before getting into the game and easing through.

Barty despite easing through also against Sofia Kenin did have to save two set points in the second set but did claim a third win over Kenin in four meetings. The Australian after having a scrappy start against Caroline Garcia came out of the gates well taking control of the tie early on and this showed with her claiming the first set 6-3.

It became a bit more even in the second set but when it looked like it was going to be taken the distance, Barty found a bit extra to move through.

Aryna Sabalenka, Petra Martic and Alison Riske are also among those through as the Quarter-Final line-up begins to take shape in Wuhan.