An inspirational figure in the eyes of Emma Raducanu has responded to how she feels about such attribution, all positively.

The 18-year-old US Open champion is appearing at the Transylvania Open this week in Romania.

Raducanu’s father Ian is Romanian, and the teenager has drawn much inspiration in her growth as a player from Romanian star Simona Halep.

The two-time Slam champion is also playing at the WTA 250 event this week. She spoke about what it means to be looked up to by Raducanu.

“I didn’t speak with her about tennis, I just congratulated her,” Halep said about what she said to Raducanu after her US open title.

“We didn’t get so close yet. It is an honour to hear that [I inspired her], now she is a Grand Slam champion, so she is an idol for other kids. It is a nice feeling to hear this and hopefully I inspired her.”

In fact, Raducanu and Halep could meet should both women reach the semi-finals of the Transylvania Open.

They had the opportunity to face each other in the third round of Indian Wells earlier in October. However, Raducanu lost her match in the round before to Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

Halep, who is the tournament top seed at the Transylvania Open, takes on fellow Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse in her first match at the event.