Emma Raducanu displayed tremendous resilience to mount a remarkable comeback against Kaja Juvan, booking her place in the quarterfinals of the Transylvania Open. The 2021 US Open champion looked on the brink of elimination after falling 5–0 behind in the opening set, but she clawed her way back in dramatic fashion. Raducanu later reflected on the match, shedding light on her mindset during that difficult phase.
Emma Raducanu Shares Honest Assessment of Stunning 2R Win at Transylvania Open
Raducanu opened her season on a positive note with a quarterfinal run in Hobart, but her Australian Open campaign ended in the second round at the hands of Anastasia Potapova. Now in Cluj-Napoca, the former US Open champion looks focused on capturing the second title of her career, having already offered her true self so far.
The Brit started her campaign with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Greet Minnen in the first round, but the second-round match against Juvan proved far from straightforward. Raducanu looked in serious trouble in the opening set before a timely surge turned the momentum.
Raducanu ignited her comeback with a blistering forehand to register her first game, then pressed relentlessly, capitalising on Juvan’s missed opportunities. The Briton reeled off multiple breaks to claw her way back to 5–5, as the world No. 97 faltered under pressure. Moreover, from 5-0 down, Raducanu won 11 straight games to secure a 7-5,6-1 victory.
During her post-match on-court interview, Raducanu assessed her performance, admitting she had missed many chances earlier while Juvan put her under pressure.
“Yeah, well, thank you for the support. That really got me through some of the tricky moments in the first set. And I have to say Kaja was playing some great tennis. She was putting me on the back straightaway. And I thought I was being aggressive, going for my shots but I was missing and not executing,” she said.
View this post on Instagram
However, the 23-year-old conceded that a comeback from 5–0 down never crossed her mind, and she was quick to credit the crowd for sticking with her and lifting her spirits with their support.
MORE: Emma Raducanu Longing To Be With Her Grandmother After Arriving at Transylvania Open
“But at least I could say that I was trying to play on my terms. So that was the goal for me and I don’t think I could have come back from 5-0 down before, so that was the first add to experience. But thank you for staying and waiting so long and I appreciate it,” she added.
Raducanu will be keen to carry her momentum into the later stages of the tournament. The Brit has advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 event, where she is set to take on Poland’s Maja Chwalińska.
