French Open champion Simona Halep to miss Eastbourne

LONDON: French Open champion Simona Halep will miss next week's Wimbledon warm-up at Eastbourne after suffering an Achilles problem.

Halep won her first Grand Slam title earlier this month after lifting the silverware at Roland Garros with a three-set final victory over Sloane Stephens.

It was an emotional moment for Halep, who had lost her three previous Grand Slam finals and trailed by a set and a break against Stephens before fighting back.

But the Romanian world number one will go into Wimbledon, which gets under way on July 2, without a competitive match on grass.

"I'm very sorry to announce that I'm withdrawing from next week's Nature Valley International," Halep tweeted.

"I was experiencing Achilles tendon pain and inflammation during the French Open and it has yet to fully recover. 

"I've been advised by my doctors that it needs more rest while continuing treatment. 

"I loved competing at Eastbourne last year and hope to see you at this wonderful event next year."

Halep's withdrawal leaves four top-10 players in the Eastbourne event, including last year's champion Karolina Pliskova and runner-up Caroline Wozniacki.