French Open 2018: Simona Halep focused and ready despite pressure of ending Grand Slam hoodoo
Halep has lost in all three of her Grand Slam finals, two of which were at Roland Garros. Four years ago she was beaten by Maria Sharapova and 12 months ago she lost to Jelena Ostapenko
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Your support makes all the difference.Simona Halep is already starting to feel the pressure as she returns to the scene of two of her greatest disappointments, but the world No 1 believes she is a better player than when she lost in the French Open final here last year.
Halep has lost in all three of her Grand Slam finals, two of which were at Roland Garros. Four years ago she was beaten by Maria Sharapova and 12 months ago she lost to Jelena Ostapenko. Both matches went to three sets, Sharapova winning a see-saw match after more than three hours and Ostapenko recovering to win from a set and 3-0 down.
“This year I come with pressure, but I don't want to focus on that one,” Halep said here on Friday, pointing out that she would be defending a lot of ranking points when the tournament starts on Sunday.
“Of course I have more confidence this year, because last year I was able to do a great result. But that doesn’t mean that this year is going to be the same or can be better. You never know.”
Although she also lost in her third Grand Slam final – to Caroline Wozniacki at this year’s Australian Open – Halep has consolidated her position at the top of the world rankings.
“I think that I’m a better player if we compare to last year,” Halep said. “I’m stronger mentally. I think I have worked a lot and improved.”
She added: “I just want to focus on what I have to do and also to get better and better. The results will come if I will improve. The main thing that I have in my mind is just to play my tennis, to play my game, and to be fit every time I step on the court.”
Halep said she was well aware of how difficult a challenge she faced here. “I know that every match is going to be very tough,” she said. “It’s a Grand Slam. Everyone is at the highest level here. It’s going to be difficult. I’m not thinking about the title, because it’s really far away. I’m thinking just of my first match.”
While Halep should not have too much trouble finding a way past Alison Riske in the first round, Garbine Muguruza has been drawn against Svetlana Kuznetsova in a meeting of two former champions. The Spaniard faced a similar task last year, when she played Francesca Schiavone, the 2010 champion, in her first match.
“We’ve had a lot of battles together, so it’s going to be good,” Muguruza said as she looked forward to taking on Kuznetsova, the 2009 champion.
Muguruza, who won Wimbledon last summer, said playing here would feel different to 12 months ago, when she arrived at Roland Garros as the holder of the title.
“Being the defending champion for the first time adds a lot of pressure and expectation,” Muguruza said. “For sure this year you think differently. It’s more relaxing, I guess.”
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