Emma Raducanu: US Open champion could finally face her idol Simona Halep at Miami Open
Britain's Emma Raducanu could be in line to face her idol Simona Halep following the draw for the Miami Open; the US Open champion will face either Czech Katerina Siniakova or a qualifier in round two as she hopes to improve on her third-round showing at Indian Wells
Monday 21 March 2022 22:11, UK
US Open champion Emma Raducanu could finally face her idol and former World No 1 Simona Halep following the Miami Open draw.
With 27 of the world's top 30 players playing at the WTA 1000 event, the British No 1 will have to come through a stacked bottom section of the first quarter containing Halep and sixth seed Karolina Pliskova.
Raducanu, whose father, Ian, hails from Romania has previously admitted to growing up idolising Halep.
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There have been two separate occasions when Raducanu and Halep had been scheduled to meet - at the Transylvania Open and Australian Open - but the 19-year-old has missed her chance both times after being knocked out.
Raducanu has a bye in the opening round in Miami but will face either Czech Katerina Siniakova or a qualifier in round two.
If she comes through that, there is every chance she could play Halep at long last.
The Romanian also has a bye through round one, and will play the winner of Daria Saville and Greet Minnen.
The two-time Grand Slam champion is in good form, having reached the semi-finals at Indian Wells last week.
Sixth seed Karolina Pliskova could meet Raducanu or Halep in the fourth round, should she make it that far.
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Anett Kontaveit heads up the second quarter of the draw, while former World No 1s Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber sit in the same quarter, as does 18th seed Leylah Fernandez, last year's US Open runner-up.
Maria Sakkari and Paula Badosa head up the third quarter, with No 2 seed Iga Swiatek, who has won her past 11 matches by sweeping to titles in the first two WTA 1000 events, in Doha and Indian Wells, in the fourth quarter.
The Pole could possibly face local hope Coco Gauff in the fourth round.
Murray meets Delbonis | Kyrgios takes on Mannarino
In the men's draw Andy Murray will take on Federico Delbonis in the first round and if victorious, will meet the top seed Daniil Medvedev in the second round.
Murray has won the competition twice and has entered it for the first time since 2016.
Medvedev receives a bye in the first round, as does Britain's Dan Evans. Evans could meet a qualifier in the second round and potentially Denis Shapovalov after that.
Nick Kyrgios was also given a wild card into the main draw and he takes on Adrian Mannarino in the opening round. Andrey Rublev awaits the winner.
Great Britain's Cameron Norrie will start his campaign in round two and could face Jack Draper if he is able to beat Gilles Simon in round one.
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