WTA's No. 86 Ana Bogdan will replace World No. 2 Simona Halep in Romania's national team for the tie against Canada scheduled for this weekend in Cluj-Napoca, sources from the Romanian Tennis Federation told Agerpres.
Halep has been struggling lately with various ailments, the most severe being an ankle injury sustained in the Australian Open final. At her return to Romania she said she is physically exhausted and will undergo several investigations to learn when she would be fit to step on court again.
Despite being named on Jan. 31 by Fed Cup non-playing captain Florin Segarceanu to Romania's team for the tie in Cluj, Halep will sit on the bench so as to stay safe of a relapse. She is to undergo a new medical test on Tuesday and will get the answer on Wednesday.
Until then team Romania's technical management has decided to summon Ana Bogdan, who will join the other players on the team for the trip to Cluj-Napoca on Tuesday. Bogdan confirmed the summons with a two-word message on her Facebook page: "Fed Cup".
Simona Halep will be however in Cluj-Napoca to support her mates from the stands. An official announcement as far as Halep is concerned will be made before Friday's draw.
The other players summoned for the tie with Canada are Sorana Cirstea (WTA's 38th), Irina-Camelia Begu (WTA's 37th) and Raluca Olaru (45th in the WTA doubles rankings).
Team Romania will play Canada on February 10 and 11 in the Fed Cup World Group II first-round tie at the indoor hardcourt surface of the Cluj Napoca Multipurpose Hall.
At the last meeting between the two countries, which took place in Montreal in 2015, Romania won 3-2 and booked their ticket into the elite World Group. The Canadian team is currently ranked 15th in the world, while Romania is ranked 12th. The winner of this encounter will qualify for the World Group II play-offs in April 2018.
