Top seed Simona Halep won her first Italian Open title on Monday after defending champion Karolina Pliskova retired injured while trailing 6-0, 2-1 in the final.
World No 2 Halep was competing in her third Rome WTA final, having finished runner-up in 2017 and 2018 on the clay at the Foro Italico.
“Finally after two finals I could win this title,” the Romanian said.
“I love this tournament and I’m really happy to have this beautiful trophy in my hand.
“In 2013 here I started to go in the top in world tennis. I really enjoyed and I realy was happy on court that I could play the semi-finals back then. Since then I have started to play really well.”
Pliskova, the second seed, was playing with her left thigh heavily bandaged.
The Czech struggled with her serve from the outset, falling behind to a double break, handing Halep a 3-0 advantage with a double fault.
Halep, 28,…