Emma Raducanu’s hopes of winning her first WTA Tour title since her 2021 US Open victory ended with a heavy 6-0 6-2 defeat to Sorana Cirstea in the Transylvania Open final in Cluj-Napoca. Support in the arena was split between home favourite Cirstea and Raducanu, whose father is Romanian.
Raducanu, British No 1, had reached the final after beating Greet Minnen, recovering from 5-0 down to defeat Kaja Juvan, and producing a straight-sets win over Maja Chwalinska. She endured a near three-hour semi-final against Oleksandra Oliynykova that left her physically drained and requiring treatment to her right shoulder.
From the start of the final the 23-year-old looked low on energy. She lost her opening service game after saving five break points and was bageled in the first set in 29 minutes. In the second set she briefly broke to love for her first game but then slumped physically and had her blood pressure taken by the tournament doctor. Cirstea, 35 and playing in her final season, regrouped to take the next games and close out the match.
Raducanu said: “I want to thank the public. You really made me feel at home this week. Sorry today I couldn’t bring my best. But congratulations as well to Sorana – you’ve had an incredible week. I think you’re playing great tennis.” Cirstea reflected on the moment, thanking coach Alexis Canter and supporters and noting it had been years since her last final.
Commentator Jonathan Overend on Sky Sports Tennis called it “a day to forget” for Raducanu, saying the long semi-final left her with very little to offer. Former coach Miles Maclagan suggested it was a mix of issues but that the week was a positive step, saying Raducanu needs “matches in the bank” to build consistency and trust in her body and decision-making.
Raducanu will take positives into the Qatar Open, where she is due to face qualifier Camila Osorio in the first round.
Meanwhile, Katie Boulter won the Ostrava Open, beating Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch 5-7 6-2 6-1 to claim her fourth WTA title. Boulter, 29, recovered after losing a tight first set to reel off 12 of the next 15 games and finished the match in exactly two hours. The victory will move her up 36 places to No. 84 and is her second hard-court title after San Diego in 2024; she has also won Nottingham twice.
Boulter, who has been working with coach Michael Joyce since the turn of the year, said: “It feels incredible. I’ve waited a long time for this one. I’ve worked extremely hard after a really tough year and it feels like I got the reward I deserved.” Miles Maclagan praised her ability to dictate play when on the front foot.
At the Abu Dhabi Open, Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek sealed a surprise first WTA Tour title by beating Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (7-5) 6-1, a result that will see the 20-year-old move from No. 101 into the top 50.