Simona Halep at a practice session in Melbourne before the Australian Open. Scott Barbour/Getty Images
MELBOURNE, Australia — As she seeks a second Grand Slam title, Simona Halep will first have to make the best of a second chance.
At the Australian Open draw ceremony on Thursday evening, top-seeded Halep was drawn against Kaia Kanepi in the first round for the second consecutive Grand Slam event.
In the opening match of the 2018 United States Open, Kanepi decisively blasted top seed Halep off the court, winning by 6-2, 6-4 and sending shock waves through the tournament within its first hours.