Halep feeling no pressure for US Open
Published : 25 Aug 2018, 20:01
World number one Simona Halep from Romania said on Friday that she feels no pressure for the US Open, which starts next Monday.
"I don't feel the pressure. Honestly, I don't feel it. I feel it's a big chance to get some points. It's a big chance to make a dream that I'm able to win one more big tournament. It doesn't mean it's going to happen. I'm just taking this tournament as important and I'm relaxed," said Halep in a pre-tournament press conference.
Halep will face a tough draw at the US Open, and she will meet Kaia Kanepi of Estonia in the opening round.
"You want to know my reaction when I heard? 'That's tough.' It's very tough, very tough draw for sure. It's going to be a big challenge. Last year I lost in the first round, so it cannot be worse than that," Halep said.
"I feel confident. I feel that I have the game to win against Kaia, but she's very dangerous. I just want to get ready for that match and put everything I have into that," she added.
According to the Romanian, this year's US Open is very open. She said: "Definitely everyone from top 10 can win this tournament. Every match is a tough one. I don't feel that myself is up and all the others are somewhere down. Everybody is even, and I try to win my matches when I step on the court."