The WTA Finals in China have lost another star attraction with US Open champion Bianca Andreescu eliminated after being unable to complete her second round-robin match against Karolina Pliskova.
Andreescu was leading second-seeded Pliskova 2-0 when she injured her left knee while landing awkwardly on a return of serve.
After hobbling gingerly to her chair for assistance, the Canadian teenager had her knee heavily strapped and bravely tried to play through the pain.
But after winning only one more game, Andreescu called it quits when Pliskova took the opening set 6-3.
Having lost her opener on Monday against Wimbledon champion Simona Halep, Andreescu now stands at 0-2 for the week and out of contention for the semi-finals.
Andreescu’s injury follows the withdrawal of third-seeded Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka with a shoulder problem before her scheduled second match on Tuesday against Australia’s world No.1 Ashleigh Barty.
The prestigious season-ending championship has now been robbed of its top-two title favourites on successive days.
But it’s been smooth sailing for defending champion Elina Svitolina, who earlier has maintained her unbeaten record this week to secure her place in the semi-finals in Shenzhen.
Svitolina backed up her victory over Pliskova on Sunday match with a 7-5 6-3 success over Halep on Wednesday night.
“I was playing very solid today, my defence was very good and I’m very happy about that,” Svitolina said.
“Definitely I was expecting tough matches here when I arrived. I had to stay really focused from the beginning of each match. Hopefully I can keep up this level.”
The Ukrainian is the only player in the elite eight-woman draw yet to win a title this year, but could be saving her best event for last.
Svitolina has now won eight straight matches at the past three season-ending championships, including her unbeaten run to the title last year, and has yet to drop a set this week.
She will top the Purple Group with another win in her last remaining pool match on Friday night against either Andreescu or Andreescu’s potential replacement Sofia Kenin, the event’s second alternate.
The winner of Halep and Pliskova, who are both 1-1 in Shenzhen, will join Svitolina in the semi-finals.
