Emma Raducanu hadn’t reached a WTA final since the 2021 US Open.
It had been 1,610 days since Raducanu last won a semifinal match.
Ending the drought, Raducanu battled past Oleksandra Oliynykova in three sets, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, to reach the 2026 Transylvania Open final.
Emma Raducanu should make Andy Murray her next coach
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There, she will meet either Sorana Cirstea or Daria Snigur.
Raducanu was understandably delighted with the win and sent a message to her many Romanian fans after the match.
Emma Raducanu doesn’t think she would have reached the final without the fans supporting her
The 2021 US Open champion thanked the fans in her post-match interview.
“What an incredible match, I think all props to my opponent today, she played incredible, makes it so tricky to put any ball past her,” said Raducanu.
Emma Raducanu vs Oleksandra Oliynykova – Match stats
| Emma Raducanu | Oleksandra Oliynykova | |
| Aces | 0 | 0 |
| Double faults | 5 | 6 |
| 1st Serve % | 74% | 73% |
| Winners | 26 | 37 |
| Unforced errors | 44 | 61 |
| Total points won | 106 | 94 |
| Break points won | 6/14 | 5/13 |
“You think it’s past her, and then the ball is on your baseline or your sideline, it’s so difficult.
“Just most proud of how I competed, how I came back in the third set, how I managed the match, and honestly, I don’t know if I could have done it without everyone’s support today, so thank you so much.”
“What an incredible feeling, I really feel like I’m at home here, so thank you so much, everyone!”
Raducanu was heard shouting ‘Hajde’, a common Balkanism, throughout the match.
When asked about her use of the word, Raducanu said the following.
“When the Hajde’s come out, it means I’m getting really gritty!” she said.
“It kind of comes out, since juniors, whenever it was really tight, it would just come out, I guess that’s when the true competitor comes out in me.
“I’m really happy with how I came through this. It’s really nice to hear everyone’s support and everyone’s Hajde’s, so let’s go!”
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Raducanu needed every last bit of the crowd support she received, as Oliynykova pushed her all the way in Cluj-Napoca.
The Ukrainian deserves credit for her performances at the Transylvania Open, a tournament she very nearly missed…
How Emma Raducanu’s opponent almost missed the Transylvania Open
Commentating for Sky Sports, Ravi Ubha revealed how close Oliynykova was to missing the Transylvania Open.
“She still lives and trains in Kyiv, does [Oleksandra] Oliynykova,” he said.
“Almost didn’t get to Cluj, because there was a power outage in her building, with what is happening back home.
“Lives on the 20th floor of her building, the elevator wasn’t working, eventually it did, and she made her transport with about 10 minutes to spare, to eventually get to Cluj.
“Got to Cluj, and is playing excellent tennis.”
Oliynykova beat two seeded players, Anna Bondar and Xinyu Wang, en route to the last four in Cluj-Napoca.
In doing so, she’s jumped 20 places in the Live WTA Rankings and could make her top-75 debut on Monday.
What happened the last time Emma Raducanu played a WTA final?
Raducanu’s inability to make tour-level finals has been well documented, but it’s hard to forget what happened in her first Championship match.
Shocking the world as a qualifier, Raducanu reached the US Open final, where she met Canada’s Leylah Fernandez.
In a tense match, it was the Brit who held her nerve best, picking up the win in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
For some time, fans wondered if she’d ever return to another final, but they need not worry anymore.
Whether she can go a step further and win the title remains to be seen.
Raducanu will play Cirstea or Snigur in the 2026 Transylvania Open final on Saturday, February 7.
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