World No. 1 Halep feeling no pressure for US Open

World No.1 Simona Halep from Romania said 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," said Halep in a pre-tournament press conference on Friday, reports Xinhua news agency.

"It doesn't mean it's going to happen. I'm just taking this tournament as important and I'm relaxed."

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."

--IANS

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