Emma Raducanu is a win away from ending her five-year trophy drought after sealing a three-set win over Oleksandra Oliynykova at the Transylvanian Open.
The former US Open champion battled to a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 win over the unseeded Ukrainian in what was a roller-coaster encounter. After coming through the opening set, during which she took a medical timeout for shoulder treatment, Raducanu then lost four out of the next 10 games played. Then in the decider, she recovered from a break down but failed to convert two match point opportunities when ahead 5-2.
Serving for the match, Raducanu recovered from a 15-40 deficit before earning her third match point by producing a backhand dropshot winner. She then closed the match out with the help of an Oliynykova backhand error.
“What an incredible match. All props to my opponent today.” Raducanu said afterwards.
“She played incredibly. Makes it so tricky to put any ball past her. You think it’s past her and then the ball is back on your baseline or on your sideline, so it’s so difficult.”
Raducanu’s win is a massive boost for the 23-year-old. It is the first time she has reached the final of a Tour-level event since she won her maiden title at the 2021 US Open. Prior to playing Oliynykova, she scored straight-sets wins over Greet Minnen, Kaja Juvan and Maja Chwalińska earlier in the tournament.
“I’m most proud of how I competed, how I came back in the third set and how I managed the match,” she said of her latest performance.
“I honestly don’t know if I could have done it without everyone’s support today.” She added.
The long-awaited breakthrough takes place in a country she has close links with. Raducanu was born in Canada and moved to England when she was two years old. Her father, Ion, originated from Bucharest, Romania.
“I really felt like I’m at home here,” she said.
“When the ‘hai’ (Romanian phrase for ‘come on’) does come out, it means that I’m getting really gritty. Since juniors, whenever it was really tight it would just come out.”
Raducanu will play either Sorana Cirstea or Daria Snigur in the final.
