“Of course it’s going to be a big challenge [if we play] because she has a lot of confidence, she’s kind of [the] favourite for the next match if we play.
“I’m happy that I will have the chance to play with US Open champion so fast, the next tournament after that Grand Slam,” she said at the time, though may now get to play Raducanu in just her second match after winning in Flushing Meadows.
The former Wimbledon champion had picked up a back injury during her third-round win over world No 81 Varvara Gracheva, requiring a medical time out en route to a 6-4 6-2 win over the Russian.
Speaking after the match, Halep revealed the issue impaired her movement but said she was “used to pain” and didn’t want to retire.
“My back got blocked, the pain is really big, I can’t bend or move too much. But I am used to pain, I’ve had this before, I wanted to continue and finish this match. It’s good I won, I don’t know how, but it’s a good victory,” she explained during her on-court interview on Thursday (October 28).