World No. 2 Simona Halep was on court practising when she found out that she would be playing her first round US Open match against former champion Maria Sharapova.
“Of course, I was a bit like ‘How is it possible again?’” Halep said with a laugh. “But my reaction was normal. I have had tough draws almost all of this year.”
Indeed, she has had tough draws and managed to go deep on many occasions. But no one has come as frustratingly close to being World No 1 as Halep has this year.
Her loss to No. 3 Garbine Muguruza at the Cincinnati final marked the third time this year that she failed to win with the top ranking on the line. She had lost to 20-year-old Jelena Ostapenko at the French Open final and to Johanna Konta at the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
And yet again, she is among the eight women vying to take the top spot from Karolina Pliskova (6390 points) by the end of the tournament. Serena Williams’ temporary absence has sown uncertainty about who in the women’s side can be a contender to win big titles.
Halep (6385), once more gunning for her seemingly elusive first Grand Slam title, has on multiple occasions been the answer to that.
She enters the US Open having reached at least the quarterfinals or better at ten consecutive tournaments this year, including a title defence at Madrid.
Her best run at this tournament was when she reached the semifinals in 2015 (losing to eventual champion Flavia Pennetta).
Halep, known to be aggressive on court, however has had some problems keeping her nerves under control, especially when something as significant as a top ranking or title win was in play.
At the French Open final, she led by a set and 3-0 in the second, with three chances to go up to 4-0.
“I’m not thinking about it anymore. It was enough. I thought about it too much and the pressure got to me during important moments,” she said when asked about how she prepares herself mentally.
Asked if she feels she’s a better player since 2014 when she reached her first Grand Slam final, Halep said, “I am different in many ways as a player. I have faced many situations in these three years. I feel better, and I feel I’m ready. Doesn’t matter what the result will be. I just want to change something. Maybe I can win. We will see.”