Defending champion, Simona Halep announced a shocker just a few minutes before the Wimbledon Championships 2021 draw. The Romanian notified her withdrawal from the Grand Slam, making it the second consecutive Grand Slam that she has missed. As she was the defending champion, she was defending a lot of points and now with those gone, she will trickle down the WTA rankings.
Halep was defending a whole 2000 points at Wimbledon 2021. Now that she isn’t participating, she will lose 2000 points and drop from World No.3 to World No.9. Halep currently has 6330 points. After the points from Wimbledon will be deducted, Halep will be with 4330 points and that will put her in the fringes of the top 10.
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Right now, Iga Swiatek is 9th with 4465 points, and she is defending only 10 points at Wimbledon 2021. Hence she will certainly be ahead of Halep after the Grand Slam. With 4330 points, Halep is very close to exiting the top 10. Petra Kvitova is making a re-entry into the top 10 after reaching the semifinals of WTA Bad Homburg. However, if she wins in Bad Homburg, she puts herself in a good position to trump Halep’s ranking after Wimbledon.
Who could push Simona Halep out of the WTA top 10?
Moreover, Belinda Bencic, Garbine Muguruza, and Victoria Azarenka are also in close proximity to Halep’s ranking. Halep has now clocked in 367 consecutive weeks inside the top 10. That is the most among active players. That number will increase as Halep will lose points after the conclusion of Wimbledon. And her long run of over seven years could come to an end.
?It is with great sadness that I?m announcing my withdrawal from The Championships as my calf injury has not fully recovered. I gave it everything I had in order to be ready to play Wimbledon and after having such special memories from 2 years ago, I was excited and honored to step back on these beautiful courts as defending champion. Unfortunately, my body didn?t cooperate and I?ll have to save that feeling for next year,??Halep announced her withdrawal from Wimbledon 2021.
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Halep’s 2021 record stands at 11-5. It has been filled with injuries which has allowed her to participate at only one Grand Slam in 2021. With Halep entering her 30s, everyone will be curious to see how she can rejuvenate her career.
Read more:?Wimbledon Championships 2021 Draw: Serena Williams? Path to 24th Grand Slam