Simona Halep postpones operation to play for Romania in Fed Cup
Wednesday 3 February 2016 17:39, UK
Simona Halep has decided to postpone an operation on her nose to play for Romania in their Fed Cup clash with defending champions Czech Republic this weekend.
World No 3 Halep announced after her early exit from the Australian Open that she would skip the match in Cluj-Napoca - and tournaments in Dubai and Doha - in order to have surgery in a bid to eradicate health problems that have adversely affected her tennis performances in recent weeks.
She had then hoped to return in time to defend her title at Indian Wells in March.
However, Halep has had a change of heart and will line up in the World Group opener against a strong Czech team that features world No 9 Petra Kvitova, 13th-ranked Karolina Pliskova, Barbora Strycova and Denisa Allertova.
Halep said: "I don't know when I will have the operation. It is necessary and will help me a lot but at the moment I feel fine. The prognosis is good."
"It's a great advantage to have Simona Halep in our team," Romania captain Alina Tecsor said.
"But let's not forget that the Czech Republic has a strong team, with players in the top 10, so chances are somehow equal."
Romania's Alexandra Dulgheru will miss the match against the Czechs due to injury.
