Raducanu Edges Oliynykova for Second WTA Final
Emma Raducanu overcomes Oleksandra Oliynykova in a tense three-set semifinal at the Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca, reaching her first final since the 2021 US Open amid a gritty comeback.
Emma Raducanu’s journey back to the WTA final stage unfolded on the indoor hard courts of Cluj-Napoca, where the crisp air carried echoes of her 2021 US Open triumph. Four years and five months later, the top seed outlasted Oleksandra Oliynykova 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 in a semifinal that stretched 2 hours and 48 minutes, blending tactical patience with bursts of aggression. This victory snapped a six-match losing streak in deciding sets, her first three-set win since defeating Ann Li 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-1 in Eastbourne last June, and set up a clash with home favorite Sorana Cirstea.
The Briton’s path here followed a second-round Australian Open exit to Anastasia Potapova and a split with coach Francisco Roig, prompting a return to the bold, early-ball style of her junior days. Oliynykova, the 24-year-old Ukrainian ranked No. 91, brought her distinctive slices and moonballs to disrupt rhythm, her on-court energy and support for her war-torn homeland drawing fans into the BT Arena. Raducanu adapted, shortening points against the web of awkward bounces, her shoulder holding after mid-set treatment.
“What an incredible match,” Raducanu said in her on-court interview. “All props to my opponent. Oli, she played incredible, she 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 just so difficult. Most proud of how I competed, how I came back in the third set, how I managed the match.”
Momentum swings in the second set
Raducanu seized the first break for 5-4 with heavy topspin forehands that forced errors, but Oliynykova countered immediately, extending games to deuce before Raducanu held for 6-5. The opener closed on clean strokes after that shoulder pause, pushing the score to 3-1 in the second as her one–two serve-forehand crosscourt pinned the Ukrainian deep. Yet Oliynykova flattened her groundstrokes, reeling off five straight games with a defensive drop shot and perfect lob that ignited the crowd, her joy-fueled play leveling the match.
This shift tested Raducanu’s front-foot commitment, her unforced errors surfacing under the pressure of a deep run on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz. The surface’s moderate speed amplified Oliynykova’s retrievals, pulling Raducanu wide with underspin slices before striking backhand passes down-the-line. As the decider loomed, the Briton’s frustration peaked in a gritty “haide!”—Romanian for “come on!”—a slip from her father’s heritage that signaled her competitor’s fire.
Grit prevails in the decider
Down a break at 1-2, Raducanu reset with quicker returns, breaking back in a lung-busting rally capped by a crosscourt forehand winner that neutralized the moonballs. She surged to 5-2 with inside-in shots to the corners, shortening rallies to exploit Oliynykova’s positioning. The Ukrainian fought on, saving triple match point at 5-2 with terrific lobs and earning a standing ovation on exit, Raducanu joining the applause in respect.
In the final game, from break point down, Raducanu’s drop shots turned the tide—consecutive winners that skimmed the net and died short, forcing a wide backhand on her fourth match point. “At the end of the day, I just want to hit the ball to the corners and hard,” she had said in Melbourne, echoing her shift from excess variety to direct aggression. This win, her first decider triumph in months, boosts her top-100 stability as she eyes a rematch with Cirstea, who routed Daria Snigur 6-0, 6-3—their 2021 Wimbledon encounter a 6-3, 7-5 Raducanu victory.
For deeper tournament insight, check the Scores, Draws, and Order of play from Cluj-Napoca. Raducanu’s tactical poise against Oliynykova’s disruption highlights her resurgence on these grippy hards, where Cirstea’s baseline power awaits. With rankings points on the line, this final could redefine her season, channeling that junior-era fearlessness into a second title chase.
