Emma Raducanu reached her first final since the 2021 US Open after a gruelling three-set semi-final win over Oleksandra Oliynykova at the Transylvania Open in Cluj. The British No 1, seeded top at the WTA 250 event, took the opening set 7-5, dropped the second 3-6, then recovered from an early break in the decider to win the third 6-3.
Raducanu fought back strongly after losing serve early in set three, winning four of the next five games. She had three match points on Oliynykova’s serve at 5-2 but could not convert; she later held to close out the contest, finishing with a couple of well-timed drop shots. The match lasted nearly three hours and Raducanu described it as “brutal,” praising Oliynykova’s awkward, relentless retrieving and her own ability to battle back.
Raducanu required a physio timeout in the first set for attention to her right shoulder and commented on the conditions, saying the balls became heavier and more unpredictable as they wore down. It has been an intense week: Raducanu has played four matches in five days, dropping only one set, and reached her first final in five years. This run comes a week after she split with coach Francis Roig; she credited the work of her current team, including Alexis Canter, and said recovery will be key ahead of the final.
She will face Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, the tournament’s third seed, in Saturday’s final, scheduled for 2.30pm live on Sky Sports Tennis. Raducanu said playing a home favourite would make the occasion special for the event.
In Ostrava, Britain’s Katie Boulter also advanced to a WTA final, the fifth of her career, defeating American Katie Volynets 6-1 6-3. Boulter took the first set in around half an hour and held momentum despite a stronger response from Volynets in the second.
Boulter will meet Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch, ranked No 124, in Saturday’s Ostrava final at 3pm. With Raducanu contesting a separate final in Romania the same day, it marks the first time two British women have appeared in different WTA finals on the same day.
Reflecting on her win, Boulter said she was pleased but still hungry for more, praising Volynets for raising her level in the second set and noting she stayed composed to prevent a momentum shift. In good spirits after the victory, she celebrated coach Michael Joyce’s birthday and joked she hoped to gift him a trophy.