Halep keeps calm ahead of French Open final (Lead)
Paris June 9 (IANS) Just a win away from her maiden Grand Slam trophy and world No. 1 position Romanian tennis player Simona Halep wants to keep a cool head against the history-making Latvian underdog Jelena Ostapenko.
Halep will face 20-year-old Ostapenko in the women s singles final of the French Open here on Saturday reports Xinhua news agency.
Of course it s going to be a great thing if I can win tomorrow but I would like not to think too much as it will put more pressure said the No. 3 seed Halep at the pre-game conference on Friday.
It s tough to know what to expect against Ostapenko. She s hitting balls very strong said Halep.
But I will focus more on myself. I m not focusing on her too much. I just want to do my game be focused and move well.
I know that she can play her best tennis. She has nothing to lose. I m going there and I will be ready she added.
After top seed Angelique Kerber s first-round exit Halep grasped the chance to replace the German to move atop WTA world rankings with a crucial head-to-head win against the second-seeded Karolina Pliskova in Thursday s semi-final. The Romanian could accomplish the mission if she uppered in Saturday s final.
However her next opponent Ostapenko was also on an unbelievable run at Roland Garros this year as the first Latvian to reach a Grand Slam final.
The Latvian promising star gave herself a perfect gift to celebrate her 20th birthday after eliminating the No. 30 seed Timea Bacsinszky.
The recording-breaking victory earned Ostapenko nationwide attention back home even from the President of Latvia.
As she revealed the President gave her mother a phone call. That means a lot already she said.
I m already in the final. Simona is a great player. In the match against her I need to stay aggressive and to play my game. It s going to be a tough match and I have to be ready for it commented Ostapenko.
The Romanian shrugged off huge pressure to stand on the other side of net against the underdog.
I always say that I play well with the pressure but now I don t need it.
I just take it like a big day a big match. Definitely I m ready for it because I won many matches until now Halep said.
--IANS
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