Simona Halep was forced to retire in the first round of the China Open after suffering a reoccurrence of her troubling back injury.
The world number one dropped the opening set 6-1 against Tunisian qualifier Ons Jabeur before declaring she was unable to continue.
Halep, who has already qualified for next month's WTA Finals, battled the same issue during a lacklustre 6-0, 7-5 defeat to Dominika Cibulkova at the Wuhan Open last week.
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Her latest setback continues a difficult couple of months, the 27-year-old having been stunned by Kaia Kanepi in the first round of the US Open.
"I'm just worried now. I feel sad that I couldn't finish. I don't know exactly what it is. I will go home. I will have an MRI and I will see," Halep said after the match.
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