It wasn’t Emma Raducanu’s day in Cluj-Napoca.
The British number one walked on court full of hope, looking to emerge victorious in just her second career final.
However, Raducanu was unable to replicate the performance she produced at the US Open five years ago.
Will Emma Raducanu ever win another Grand Slam title?
In straight sets, Raducanu lost to the home favorite, Sorana Cirstea, 0-6, 2-6, in one hour and five minutes.
She looked less than 100% during the match, as she fell to 1-1 in WTA finals.
Understandably disappointed with the result, Raducanu stepped up to deliver her runner-up speech.
Emma Raducanu congratulates Sorana Cirstea after the Transylvania Open final
“I want to say thank you to all of the ball kids, all the umpires, all the sponsors who made this tournament possible,” said Raducanu.
“There’s so much work that goes on behind the scenes, and also I want to thank the public, for sure.
“You really made me feel at home this week, so thank you.
“Sorry, I couldn’t bring my best today.”
She then congratulated Romania’s Cirstea, who is now a WTA champion for the fourth time, despite planning to retire at the end of the year.
Sorana Cirstea’s WTA titles
| Year | Tournament | Country | Tier | Surface |
| 2008 | Tashkent Open | Uzbekistan | WTA Tier IV (WTA 250) | Hard |
| 2021 | Istanbul Cup | Turkey | WTA 250 | Clay |
| 2025 | Tennis in the Land | USA | WTA 250 | Hard |
| 2026 | Transylvania Open | Romania | WTA 250 | Hard (Indoor) |
“Congratulations as well to Sorana [Cirstea], you have had an incredible week, and I think you’re playing great tennis,” said Raducanu.
“I don’t know if this is your last tournament in Cluj, but I know if it were me, I would be out on a high, so congrats on everything!”
Raducanu also took a moment to thank those who have supported her over the years.
“Honestly, it’s been a while since I’ve given one of these speeches,” she admitted.
“I also want to thank Alexis [Canter] and the people back home, who have supported me throughout the last few years.
Emma Raducanu should make Andy Murray her next coach
Do you think this is a possibility?
“It’s been like four or five years since my last final, so it means a lot.
“I’m really happy that it’s here in Cluj.”
Making the final, Raducanu enjoyed a five-place jump in the WTA rankings.
Live WTA Rankings
| Rank | Name | Country | Points | Move |
| 21 | Diana Shnaider | Russia | 1,953 | |
| 22 | Elise Mertens | Belgium | 1,936 | |
| 23 | Marta Kostyuk | Ukraine | 1,863 | |
| 24 | Jelena Ostapenko | Latvia | 1,860 | |
| 25 | Emma Raducanu | Great Britain | 1,700 | +5 |
| 26 | Qinwen Zheng | China | 1,658 | |
| 27 | Leylah Fernandez | Canada | 1,653 | -2 |
| 28 | Anna Kalinskaya | Russia | 1,575 | -1 |
| 29 | Sofia Kenin | USA | 1,567 | -1 |
| 30 | Maya Joint | Australia | 1,549 | -1 |
| 31 | Sorana Cirstea | Romania | 1,499 | +5 |
Whether she can use that as a springboard for further success in 2026 remains to be seen.
What’s next for Emma Raducanu?
Assuming she doesn’t withdraw, Raducanu will now travel to the Middle East for the WTA 1000 Qatar Open.
The British number one has drawn a qualifier in the first round, but could meet some top players in Doha.
Emma Raducanu’s Qatar Open draw (By ranking)
- 1R – Camila Osorio (qualifier)
- 2R – Clara Tauson [11]
- 3R – Ekaterina Alexandrova [8]
- QF – Coco Gauff [4]
- SF – Elena Rybakina [2]
- F – Iga Swiatek [1]
Clara Tauson and Ekaterina Alexandrova aren’t easy wins by any metric…
But how has the 23-year-old performed in Doha throughout her career?
She made her Qatar Open debut in 2024, against Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina.
Raducanu was bagelled in the first set, before losing the second in a tiebreaker.
She didn’t fare much better when she returned in 2025, losing to Alexandrova in straight sets, 3-6, 5-7.
Only time will tell if she can win her first career match at the Qatar Open this time around.
The 2026 Qatar Open begins on Monday, February 9.
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