Halep pulls out of Birmingham event with ankle injury

World number two Simona Halep has withdrawn from next week's Aegon Classic in Birmingham due to a right ankle injury, organisers said on Thursday.

Halep, the beaten finalist in the French Open last week, is the latest top player to pull out from the event after Czech world number three Karolina Pliskova opted to rest her injured elbow ahead of Wimbledon.

Poland's tenth-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska and Monica Puig of Puerto Rico have both pulled out citing illnesses.

Heather Watson, the second-ranked British woman behind world number eight Johanna Konta, has been handed a wildcard along with compatriot Naomi Broady.

World number one Angelique Kerber, two-times Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and 2016 WTA Finals champion Dominika Cibulkova will all be in action at the WTA Premier level tournament in Birmingham.

Image: Simona Halep

Photograph: Christian Hartmann/Reuters