NEW YORK—Simona Halep survived the US Open first round for the first time in three years.
Now, the Wimbledon champion sets her sights on a familiar finish.
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Halep, who beat Nicole Gibbs, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, in her US Open opener on Tuesday, is aiming to land the year-end top spot for the third straight season.
The fourth-ranked Romanian currently trails world No. 1 Naomi Osaka by 1,863 ranking points with the top-seeded Japanese defending 2,000 points at this US Open.
Given the Romanian is defending just 21 ranking points the rest of the season, she sees a clear path to her third straight season as year-end world No. 1.
“Well, if I'm healthy, I will go for it 100 percent,” Halep said. “I want to finish No. 1. I still have chances, so I'm going to work for them. I'm confident that I have actually a big chance. I will fight.”