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US Open 2017: Players under the most pressure on the women’s draw

By Maxwell Ogden

SINGAPORE - OCTOBER 25: Simona Halep (L) of Romania congratulates Angelique Kerber of Germany after their singles match during day 3 of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore at Singapore Sports Hub on October 25, 2016 in Singapore. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
SINGAPORE - OCTOBER 25: Simona Halep (L) of Romania congratulates Angelique Kerber of Germany after their singles match during day 3 of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore at Singapore Sports Hub on October 25, 2016 in Singapore. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 11: Simona Halep of Romania plays a forehand during the Ladies Singles quarter final match against Johanna Konta of Great Britain on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 11, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 11: Simona Halep of Romania plays a forehand during the Ladies Singles quarter final match against Johanna Konta of Great Britain on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 11, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /

2. Simona Halep, Romania

Simona Halep has been in and out of the No. 2 world ranking since 2014, including her current status as No. 2 in 2017. She’s reached the quarterfinal at four of the past five Grand Slam events, including the 2017 French Open final.

The hurdle that Halep has been unable to overcome, however, is actually winning a Grand Slam—and there may not be a better opportunity for her to do so than at the 2017 US Open.

Halep has been incredibly consistent, which is certainly a feather in her cap. The tennis world has been awaiting her final leap to the ranks of the elite, however, and that defining moment of her potentially legendary career has yet to come.

Fortunately, Halep has performed well at the US Open, reaching the semifinal in 2015 and the quarterfinal in 2016.

Halep fell to Serena Williams in 2016, and lost to eventual champion Flavia Pennetta in 2015. With Williams out of the fold and Pennetta retired, Halep can exorcise her remaining demons by taking home the title at a Grand Slam she’s proven to be strong at.

All eyes have been on Halep at each of the past two Grand Slam events, and that won’t change at the 2017 US Open.

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