Emma Raducanu fell agonizingly short of just a second career title at the Transylvania Open after losing in the final to Sorana Cirstea.
Cirstea beat Raducanu 6-0, 6-2 in the final of the WTA 250 event in Romania, where the Briton was the top seed.
But after impressing throughout the Transylvania Open, Raducanu suffered a nightmare final defeat in just one hour and three minutes.
The British number one was playing just her second career final, having won her other at the US Open in 2021.
Will Emma Raducanu ever win another Grand Slam title?
Emma Raducanu must take confidence from Romania despite final nightmare
Raducanu now turns her focus to the Qatar Open, for which she should be full of confidence despite her Romanian venture ending in heartache.
That should be the overriding feeling for the 23-year-old, who has bounced back from Australian Open disappointment and her splitting of Francisco Roig in superb fashion.
Despite the final defeat and indeed the frustrating manner of it, she’s taken huge strides in a short space of time.
Moreover, she was playing against home favorite Cirstea, who is currently playing out her final season on the WTA Tour.
The lengthy run comes at a fantastic time for Raducanu, who needs to use the momentum and experience in her Qatar opener.
She’ll meet Camila Osorio in the first round in Doha, which is now hosting the first WTA 1000 event of the season.
It’s a fantastic opportunity for Raducanu to prove herself at a high level, with the tournament boasting a very strong field despite a handful of high-profile withdrawals.
Emma Raducanu should make Andy Murray her next coach
Do you think this is a possibility?
Emma Raducanu’s fine run at the Transylvania Open
Raducanu has a tough Qatar draw, but the former Grand Slam champion would be wise to simply take each match as it comes.
That’s what she did at the Transylvania Open to great success, although she was helped by being the top seed.
The world number 30 is unseeded at the Qatar Open, which has been weakened by the withdrawals of Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys among others.
Raducanu will find it very difficult to clinch a second WTA title in Doha, but another lengthy run should be welcomed with open arms.
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| First | Greet Minnen | 6-0, 6-4 |
| Second | Kaja Juvan | 7-5, 6-1 |
| Quarterfinal | Maja Chwalinska | 6-0, 6-4 |
| Semifinal | Oleksandra Oliynykova | 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 |
| Final | Sorana Cirstea [3] | 0-6, 2-6 |
She’s still not at the level she reached during that stunning US Open run in 2021, but the British number one can now continue to take steps in the right direction.
Given her injury struggles and constant coaching changes, patience is required with the 23-year-old, who can clearly challenge the very best when she does bring everything together.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
