Simona Halep of Romania
Simona Halep of Romania celebrates after defeating Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in their quarterfinals match at the U.S. Open Championships tennis tournament in New York, September 9, 2015. Reuters/Carlo Allegri

Simona Halep of Romania is appearing in her first ever semifinals in a Grand Slam tournament and she’ll face veteran Italian campaigner Flavia Pennetta, who is back in the final four after making it to this round of the US Open two years ago.

“I knew when I started the tournament that I have a good game. I feel great and I have good mentality coming in this Grand Slam. I had no expectations, no pressure. So that's why I'm playing so good,” Halep said via the tournament’s official website.

The 23-year-old Halep, who is just 1-3 lifetime against her 33-year-old Italian opponent, said she expects a tough match-up in the semifinals and knows that Pennetta “never gives up.”

Pennetta, who is the 26th seed in this event, defeated Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in the quarterfinals winning in three sets, 4-6 6-4 6-2. Halep is coming off a tough three-setter as well beating Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, 6-3 4-6 6-4.

Pennetta is preparing for another marathon match against Halep.

“It looks like she's not that powerful like Vika but she is. She is more powerful, I think. To make a winner to her you have to finish the point seven times. She always there, always in -- the ball is always come back. It's gonna be like marathon, I think,” Pennetta said when asked about her match-up with Halep.

The pair already met in this Grand Slam with Pennetta coming out victorious, 6-2 7-6 (3) in the round of 16 of the 2013 US Open. Halep won the last match-up in the round of 16 of the Miami Open earlier this year winning in two sets, 6-3 7-5.

Catch the 2015 US Open semifinals Halep vs. Pennetta live streaming via ESPN or the US Open website.

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