Simona Halep reaches Italian Open semis after Yulia Putintseva retires injured

Simona Halep is two victories away from a first Italian Open title after opponent Yulia Putintseva retired injured during their quarter-final clash in Rome.

Halep was leading 6-2 2-0 when her opponent called it a day because of a lower back problem.

Top seed Halep has twice lost in the final at the Foro Italico and is chasing the one major clay title she is yet to claim.

The Romanian said: “It’s one of the biggest goals now. I love Rome, I love Italy, and every time I have a chance I come on holiday here, so I feel really good when I play here in Italy.”

Semifinalista ✌️😃✌️@InteBNLdItalia pic.twitter.com/cSedJNnEnV

— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) September 19, 2020

In the last four, Halep will take on another former French Open champion, Garbine Muguruza, who battled to a 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory over Victoria Azarenka.

Azarenka has exceeded expectations after her quick switch to clay following the US Open final last weekend and started strongly but it was Muguruza who emerged victorious.

Defending champion Karolina Pliskova, the second seed, made it through to the last four with a 6-3 3-6 6-0 win against Elise Mertens.

Pliskova will now face Marketa Vondrousova after her fellow Czech defeated fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina, the 2017 and 2018 champion, 6-3 6-0.