Emma Raducanu defeated Oleksandra Oliynykova 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 in a grueling semifinal at the Transylvania Open to advance to her first WTA final since the 2021 US Open. The British No. 1 overcame a mid-match comeback from the Ukrainian to secure the win after nearly three hours. She will face Romania's Sorana Cirstea in Saturday's final.
Emma Raducanu, the top seed at the Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, battled through a tactically demanding semifinal against Oleksandra Oliynykova on February 6, 2026. The match, lasting 2 hours and 48 minutes, saw Raducanu claim the first set 7-5 after navigating breaks and a shoulder treatment break. Oliynykova, ranked No. 91, leveled the score by taking the second set 6-3, capitalizing on a five-game run to erase Raducanu's early lead.
In the decisive third set, Raducanu trailed 1-2 but responded with back-to-back breaks, including a thunderous forehand return, to lead 5-2. Serving for the match, she saved two break points and converted her fourth match point after Oliynykova sent a backhand wide, aided by crucial drop shots. Oliynykova's defensive style, featuring slices, moonballs, and lobs, frustrated Raducanu, who saved 21 break points in her quarterfinal but faced a resilient opponent here.
"What an incredible match," Raducanu said in her on-court interview. "All props to my opponent. Oli, she played incredible, she makes it so tricky to put any ball past her." The victory ends Raducanu's six-match losing streak in deciding sets and marks her first three-set win since June 2025. Coming off a second-round Australian Open exit and a coaching split with Francisco Roig, Raducanu has won four straight matches in Cluj-Napoca, dropping just one set.
This run boosts her live WTA ranking to No. 25, her highest since losing 2021 US Open points. In the final, she meets No. 3 seed Sorana Cirstea, who beat Daria Snigur 6-0, 6-3. Raducanu leads their head-to-head 1-0 from Wimbledon 2021. Oliynykova, known for her on-court joy and support for Ukraine amid ongoing conflict, earned a standing ovation.
