Halep defies heel to hit Wimbledon last 16

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LONDON: World number five Simona Halep made it through to the Wimbledon fourth round with a straightforward victory over Kiki Bertens on Centre Court on Saturday, despite a lingering Achilles problem.

The 2014 Wimbledon semi-finalist cruised to a 6-4, 6-3 win over the Dutch world number 28, watched by a wealth of British sports stars including members of England’s 1966 football World Cup-winning team.

She faces either ninth seed Madison Keys or Alize Cornet in the round of 16 on Monday.

Halep did not play a grasscourt warm-up tournament before Wimbledon due to a tendon injury.

“I’m fit now but some days I have pain again. I don’t know what is going on with my Achilles,” she said.

The 24-year-old said she would not be going to watch Keys face Cornet to get some inside information ahead of Monday’s match.