Halep out to gatecrash Serena’s party

She may not be a household name, but Australian Open hopeful Simona Halep no longer believes she’s flying under the radar.

As Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova once again hog the spotlight, third seed Halep and fourth seed Petra Kvitova shape as the most likely challengers to the world’s top two at Melbourne Park.

Halep backed up her breakthrough 2013 campaign, in which the Romanian hoisted six trophies, to qualify for her maiden grand slam final last season at Roland Garros on the way to finishing 2014 as the world No.3.

And after opening the new year in China with her ninth career title, Halep says there’s no disguising her desire to join the grand slam winners’ club in Melbourne.

Far from conceding favouritism to Williams or Sharapova, the 23-year-old believes the Open is just that – wide open.

“I was thinking a few days ago that even if I am third in the rankings, I have my chance,” Halep said before first-round match on Monday against Italian Karin Knapp.

“It is not like I have to be in the semi-finals or in the finals. Everyone from the top 20 I can say has their own chance to win this title.

“You saw (Karolina) Pliskova, last week (in Sydney) she played very well. Kvitova as well. Everyone can win this title.

“The tournament is open.”

With 2014 champion Li Na retiring last year, Kvitova showed the benefits of nabbing the Chinese star’s respected conditioner as she opened the season in style with success in Sydney.

Like Halep and on top of her game, the Wimbledon champion is convinced the title is up for grabs.

“I don’t think really like one big, big favourite of the tournament. So we’ll see,” Kvitova said.

“There’s a lot of great players playing. I know Maria won Brisbane. Serena is always one of the favourites. Simona played really well in Shenzhen.

“I’m very glad how everything went. I’m glad to have a title in the beginning of this new year.

“I’m glad that I have matches under my belt and I can be well-prepared for Melbourne and I’m excited.”

Kvitova begins her title push on Tuesday against Dutch qualifier Richel Hogenkamp.

Up against Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck, Williams also opens her bid on Tuesday and the 18-times grand slam champion claims to be hungrier than any of her rivals for a sixth crown.

“It would be really great,” Williams said.

“I’ve been going for No.6 for a number of years now.

“It would be really special for me. I would be really happy. I want it I think more than anyone else here.

“But that doesn’t mean I’m going to get it, so I’ll have to fight hard.”

Sharapova, who plays Croatian qualifier Petra Martic first up, headlines a star-studded women’s line-up on day one.

Serbian fifth seed Ana Ivanovic is up against Czech qualifier Lucie Hradecka, while Canadian seventh seed Eugenie Bouchard, who announced her arrival on the big stage last year with a run to the semi-finals, plays German Anna-Lena Friedsam.

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