Simona Halep is playing pressure-free tennis, and it's working wonders as the world's No. 2 player nears her first grand slam title.
Halep advanced to the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for the first time in her career thanks to a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win over former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka Wednesday.
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The Romanian 23-year-old — a finalist in last year's French Open — has spoken at length about how setting no expectations for herself has aided her play. That continues to be the case for Halep, who is a win away from a second grand slam final.
"I feel great and I have good mentality coming in this grand slam," she told reporters after her match. "I had no expectations, no pressure. So that's why I'm playing so good. It's a great feeling now that I can be in the semifinals. I want to fight to win it. But we will see. I expect a tough match."
Next up, Halep will face Flavia Pennetta, who defeated No. 5 seed Petra Kvitova 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Wednesday.
Halep — 45-11 on tour this season — is keeping with the care-free mentality she adopted after losing in the first round at Wimbledon.
"I wanted just to forget about tennis, about official matches," she said. "I just wanted to come back with the pleasure on court and taking just, you know, the fun.
"That's why I played mixed (doubles) here — to have fun and to refine the pleasure during the official matches. And after I lost in Wimbledon, I said that that's the worst thing. Cannot be like worse than losing in first round in a grand slam. I went there with expectations in my mind. So that's why I change my mind now, and I feel much relaxed."