NEW YORK—Simona Halep hasn't studied her section of the US Open draw.
But the world No. 1 has heard all she needs to know.
Gilbert: WTA Policy An Absolute Joke
"Darren told me it's the toughest part," Halep told reporters at today's US Open media day. "It's enough to know."
The top-seeded Halep, who opens again 2017 quarterfinalist Kaia Kanepi, leads a stacked quarter that features four former world No. 1 players: Serena Williams, who is Halep's potential fourth-round opponent, Venus Williams, Garbine Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova.
"It's very tough, very tough draw for sure," Halep said. "It's going to be a big challenge. Last year I lost in the first round, so it cannot be worse than that.
"I feel confident. I feel that I have the game to win against [Kanepi], but she's very dangerous. I just want to get ready for that match and put everything I have into that."
Despite the demands the draw, the reigning Roland Garros champion believes she has a "big chance" to contend for the season's final Grand Slam title.
Halep said winning Paris has reduced her stress level ahead of New York, where she can pick up ranking points after falling to Maria Sharapova in the 2017 Flushing Meadows first round.
"After French Open, I didn't feel the pressure any more because I like to be in this position," Halep said. "It's the best thing to be there.
"I can say I have a big chance for this tournament, but it's tough to say that I'm the favorite one, even if I'm No. 1. You can see now the level, it's very tough. Everyone is playing at maybe the highest level. Every match, every round is difficult. I'm just looking forward to play my first one. If I will win it, I will focus on the next one just like that."
Six-time US Open champion Chrissie Evert told Tennis Now she believes any one of 10 different women can win the US Open. Halep concurs.
"Definitely everyone from [the] top 10 can win this tournament," Halep said. "Every match is a tough one. As I said, I played last week, the first round was tough."
Photo credit: Pascal Ratthe/Tennis Canada Facebook