Emma Raducanu says she will take positives from her Transylvania Open final defeat, revealing she is finding her “identity” on the court and playing “in the way I want to”.
Raducanu missed the chance to win her first title since the 2021 US Open after losing in straight sets to home favourite Sorana Cirstea in the Transylvania Open final. The British No 1 is projected to climb five places to world No 25 on Monday.
She admitted the effects of her marathon semi-final win over Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova were still present. “I’m really happy to have made progress this week and made the final,” Raducanu told Sky Sports after the match. “It means a lot to me. It’s sad that today couldn’t go a bit better, but I think Sorana played incredibly from start to finish, and my energy was pretty low after my battle yesterday. I’m really happy with the steps I made this week, and I think it’s moving in the right direction.”
Raducanu revealed she had been managing an infection and fatigue in Cluj-Napoca. “I didn’t really have much energy, and it was really difficult. Sorana played so well – I had no chance if I wasn’t 100 per cent, and even if I was 100 per cent, she was still playing incredible tennis. So all credit to her, she really deserves this one.”
After parting ways with Francisco Roig following six months working together, Raducanu has been assisted by LTA coach Alexis Canter. She described Canter’s role as helping her rediscover her style. “He’s been helping me, hitting with me, and he’s been around me through various different stages, very different game styles, and trying to just bring me back to myself – my game identity – playing in the way I want to,” she said. “I think this week was a good step in that direction. I’m really happy with how the week’s gone. I don’t know what I’ll be doing moving forward, but for now, this is working.”
She added: “I think it’s mainly about finding my style on the court, putting my imprint on it, and just letting it come from within. I would say that I’m happier, but there’s still a long way to go – definitely steps in the right direction. I can’t go from zero to 100 straight away.”
Raducanu remains undecided about playing next week’s Qatar Open in Doha, where she would face Camila Osorio in the first round and finds herself in a quarter containing Coco Gauff, Leylah Fernandez and Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Former coach Miles Maclagan, speaking to Sky Sports, said the final was a combination of factors. He praised Cirstea’s aggressive start and suggested that Raducanu might have been hampered by a physical issue by the end rather than simple fatigue. “There were some moments when Raducanu could have just worked her way into the match and created a little more stress for Cirstea, but even with the way those first eight games just flashed by, she got it back to 2-2 in the second but that fifth game was significant,” Maclagan said. “If Cirstea hadn’t been able to pull herself through, things might have changed. It didn’t seem fatigue but some sort of physical issue for Raducanu by the end. She wasn’t chasing balls but it’s a positive week.”
Maclagan emphasised the value of match play for Raducanu’s development. “Anytime you get to a final, you put those back-to-back matches behind you, I just feel that’s what Raducanu needs. There have been so many injuries, so much chopping and changing of coaches, a little bit of consistency and belief. You need to put those matches in the bank to start to trust your body, to trust your decision-making in tougher circumstances so when the dust settles, there will be positives.”
Despite the defeat, Raducanu took encouragement from her run in Romania, the support around her and the progress towards a clearer playing identity as she prepares for the next decisions in her season.