Emma Raducanu did more than secure a place in the second WTA final of her career at the Transylvania Open in Cluj. After a demanding semifinal, she spoke with honesty about the battle she endured, the opponent who pushed her to the limit, and the crowd support she believes made the difference.
Early-Round Dominance Fuels Emma Raducanu’s Deep Run at the Transylvania Open
Entering the tournament as the top seed, she opened her campaign with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Greet Minnen before staging a miraculous comeback against Kaja Juvan, winning 11 straight games after trailing 0-5 to finish 7-5, 6-1. She continued her run in the quarterfinals by dismissing Maja Chwalińska 6-0, 6-4.
Her semifinal was a physical marathon against Oleksandra Oliynykova, lasting nearly three hours. Despite dropping the second set, Raducanu’s fitness held up as she swept 16 consecutive points in the decider to win 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.
How Did Raducanu Assess the Challenge Posed by Her Semifinal Opponent?
Reflecting on it in her on-court interview, she said, “I mean, yeah, what an incredible match,” she said. “I think all props to my opponent today. Oli, she played incredible. Makes it so tricky to put any ball past her. You know, you think it’s past her and then the ball is on your baseline or on your sideline, so it’s difficult.”
On court interview pic.twitter.com/Fmo0DSreQx
— Raducanu News 🦇 (@RaducanuNews) February 6, 2026
Rather than focusing on highlights or winners, Raducanu emphasized her competitive mindset. “But yeah, just most proud of how I competed, how I came back in the third set, how I managed the match,” she explained.
MORE: Emma Raducanu Says She ‘Needs To Be on High Alert’ With Transylvania Open Final Spot Up for Grabs
The physical toll was evident, yet she pointed to the intangible factors that helped her push through. “I honestly don’t know if I could have done it without everyone’s support today. So thank you so much.”
When asked about the overwhelming support from Romanian fans, she said, “I mean, it’s what an incredible feeling. I really feel like I’m at home here. So thank you so much, everyone.”
Raducanu’s remarks were delivered during the on-court interview immediately after her semifinal victory and were later shared on social media platforms following the match, as she prepared for a high-stakes final against No. 3 seed Sorana Cîrstea. This is going to be their second meeting on the WTA Tour, with the British tennis star winning their only matchup in the third round of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships.
