WTA roundup: Halep withdraws, Konta advances in Moscow

[October 17, 2018]  The VTB Kremlin Cup lost a marquee performer Tuesday when World No. 1 Simona Halep pulled out of the tournament in Moscow due to her back injury.

Halep is dealing with a herniated disc in the back.

"I tried everything I could to be ready here as I really wanted to play, but unfortunately the back is still causing me pain and I don't want to take any risks," Halep told reporters. "While it's disappointing to withdraw, I know it's important to put my health first. I've had a few wonderful days in Moscow and wish the tournament every success."

Meanwhile, Great Britain's Johanna Konta posted a 6-3, 7-5 victory over seventh-seeded Belgian Elise Mertens in their first-round match.

Konta had 28 winners against 21 unforced errors and broke Mertens' service on four occasions. She will next face Australia's Daria Gavrilova, who recorded a 7-6 (5), 7-5 victory over Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia.

France's Kristina Mladenovic advanced with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Russian wild card Anna Kalinskaya; France's Alize Cornet registered a 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 win over Russia's Natalia Vikhlyantseva; Vera Zvonareva posted a 6-3, 6-3 victory over fellow Russian Irina Khromacheva, and Tunisia's Ons Jabeur nabbed a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Russian Ekaterina Makarova.

BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open

Top-seeded Julia Goerges and second-seeded Garbine Muguruza both won their opening matches in straight sets at Luxembourg.

Goerges posted a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Slovakia's Viktoria Kuzmova. The German scored 23 winners while Kuzmova had 18.

Muguruza recorded 31 winners during a 6-4, 6-4 win over Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele. Muguruza committed just eight unforced errors while Voegele had more errors (13) than winners (11).

Third-seeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro also advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Czech Kristyna Pliskova. Fifth-seeded Czech Katerina Siniakova moved on with a 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-0 victory over Sweden's Johanna Larsson.

Among other seeded players, Russia's Margarita Gasparyan upset seventh-seeded Greek Maria Sakkari 6-1, 7-6 (4), while ninth-seeded Kristen Flipkens of Belgium was a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Mandy Minella of Luxembourg.

--Field Level Media

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