In-form Simona Halep wary of first-round opponent Destanee Aiava

WORLD No.1 Simona Halep hits Melbourne in form having won the Shenzhen Open in China, but she’s on a scouting missing to learn more about her first-round opponent, Melbourne teenager Destanee Aiava.

Simona Halep won’t be taking it easy against Destanee Aviava in the first round of the Australian Open. Picture: AP

WORLD No.1 Simona Halep has relied on her coach for intelligence on first-round opponent Destanee Aiava, having seen little of the rising Melbourne teenager.

Aiava, 17, is ranked 153, but earned entry to her second Australian Open last month after winning the wildcard playoff.

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Halep said she was not expecting an easy match.

“I heard from my coach (Darren Cahill) because he’s Australian,” she said.

“I heard that she’s a very talented player and young.

“It is going to be a big challenge, it’s not easy to play an Australian (at) home.

“But I played in the past, I faced many of these things, so I’m ready to play her.

“We’ll see on court what is going to happen — I don’t want to look much about how she’s playing, I will try to solve the problem there on court.”

Simona Halep hit the practice court at Melbourne Park after her success in China. Picture: Getty Images

Halep is yet to win a grand slam and her best results in Melbourne have been the quarters in 2014 and 2015.

But the Romanian said she was not feeling the pressure of entering the tournament as the top seed.

“It’s nice to be in this position, for my experience, for everything,” she said.

“I don’t feel pressure, I feel OK, I feel fit, I feel ready.

“Every time is tough, every match of a grand slam.”

Halep hits Melbourne in form, having taken out the Shenzhen Open in China earlier this month.

There she played in a plain red dress ordered online from a Chinese tailor, which she will again wear at the Australian Open given she currently has no clothing sponsor after ending her deal with Adidas at the end of last season.

“It looks good, in my opinion. I like it,” Halep said.

Originally published as In-form Simona Halep wary of first-round opponent Destanee Aiava