Oleksandra Oliynykova saved 21 out of 23 break points to defeat No. 4 seed Wang Xinyu 6-4, 6-4 in the Transylvania Open quarterfinals, advancing to her first WTA semifinal. The 25-year-old Ukrainian achieved her first career win over a top-50 player in just her second tour-level main draw. She will next face top seed Emma Raducanu.
Oleksandra Oliynykova produced a remarkable defensive display in the quarterfinals of the Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, saving 21 of 23 break points en route to a 6-4, 6-4 upset victory over No. 4 seed Wang Xinyu. The 25-year-old Ukrainian, ranked No. 91, conceded her serve only twice—once in the opening game of each set—and held firm under pressure, including fending off three break points to avoid a double break at 3-0 in the first set and five more to hold for 3-2. In the second set, she repelled five break points at 2-2, one with an underarm serve, and two others later in the game. Her 91.3% break point save rate marks the highest on the WTA Tour since detailed records began in 2021.
This win, the most significant of Oliynykova's career, propels her into her first WTA semifinal and guarantees a new career-high ranking next week. Reflecting on her resilience, Oliynykova drew from her experiences amid Ukraine's ongoing war, where her father serves as a soldier. "I didn't know this statistic but you know, I'm coming from a country where there is war and you don't know what tomorrow is going to bring," she said in her on-court interview. "So for me, it's so important during such hard times in my country, I learned to enjoy every moment of tennis... I learned to be in the moment."
Oliynykova's journey to this point has been rapid; last year, she failed to qualify for the event, but now she faces a formidable challenge in top seed Emma Raducanu in the semifinals. Raducanu advanced with a 6-0, 6-4 win over qualifier Maja Chwalinska, who had earlier upset No. 7 seed Olga Danilovic. The pair first met in 2018 at an ITF event in Nanjing, China, where a 15-year-old Raducanu debuted professionally and defeated the then-17-year-old Oliynykova 7-6(2), 6-1.
Adding flair to her run, Oliynykova sported bat-themed facial decorations, nodding to the tournament's Dracula-inspired branding in Cluj-Napoca. The event continues until February 7, with Oliynykova aiming to extend her dream week.
