Miami Open: Emma Raducanu could finally face Simona Halep

Emma Raducanu could finally face childhood idol Simona Halep in the third round of the Miami Open after this year’s draw was revealed. 

The Brit remains in search of her first title since winning the US Open last year and has won just two matches so far this season. 

In her latest tournament at Indian Wells, Raducanu beat Caroline Garcia in three sets in the second round, but then lost to Croatia’s Petra Martic. 

And while the teenager has a bye for the opening round in Miami, her route to the final still looks to be a tough one. 

In the second round, the British number one will face either Katerina Siniakova or a qualifier. Siniakova is currently the number one ranked doubles player in the world and has won four doubles Grand Slams alongside her Czech compatriot Barbora Krejcikova. 

Should the 19-year-old come through that encounter, there is every chance she could play Halep at long last. Raducanu’s father, Ian, hails from Romania and she has previously admitted she grew up idolising the former world number one. 

There have already been multiple times where Raducanu could have met Halep, but so far the two are yet to cross paths. At the Transylvania Open, the Brit was knocked out to Marta Kostyuk in the quarter-finals, missing her chance to play Halep in the semis. 

Similarly, at the Australian Open, the pair were scheduled to meet in the third round, but Raducanu lost her second match of the tournament to Danka Kovinic. 

Halep also has a bye through round one in Miami, and will play the winner of Daria Saville and Greet Minnen. 

The two-time major winner is in good form at the moment, having reached the semi-finals at Indian Wells last week. 

However, she lost to eventual winner Iga Swiatek in straight sets –– denying