Emma Raducanu secured an important victory in the first round of the WTA 250 Transylvania Open, marking her return to winning ways in her first tournament since the Australian Open. The former US Open champion delivered a bagel and won comfortably against Belgian Greet Minnen, 6-0, 6-4.
The Brit had started the season in Melbourne, suffering a disappointing second-round defeat to Anastasia Potapova. After her exit in Melbourne, she quickly returned to Europe with the goal of competing at the WTA 250 in Cluj-Napoca, where she arrived as the first seed and with a good opportunity to gain wins and confidence ahead of the Middle East swing.
Raducanu took just one hour and nine minutes to dispatch the experienced Minnen. The Brit was especially precise on serve, hitting 72% of her first serves and winning 86% of them, while also winning 73% on her second serve. The former US Open champion dropped only seven points on her serve and faced no break points.
Perfect opening: Emma Raducanu bags Minnen 6-0 to take early control
The first game of the match quickly set the tone in Raducanu’s favor. The Brit earned a couple of break opportunities immediately and converted them in a closely contested first game. From that point, however, her dominance was absolute, winning 15 consecutive points until Minnen finally scored. Raducanu was already 4-0 up when Minnen managed her first point thanks to an unforced error from her opponent.
Raducanu maintained her lead, and without hesitation in the final minutes, she claimed her third consecutive break and then served impeccably, almost perfectly. The first set ended 6-0 in just 26 minutes, with Raducanu winning 74% of the total points contested.
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Strong second set secures straight-set win
In the second set, Minnen found some rhythm by holding her first service game, though it didn’t last long. Raducanu quickly demonstrated her superiority from the baseline and her consistent groundstrokes. The Brit looked particularly comfortable in the indoor hardcourt conditions, and after the first game, she won three games in a row – securing her fourth break – to move ahead 3-1.
The large lead left Minnen far behind Raducanu. Although she tried to keep up by improving her serve, she could not do much on return. The Belgian went from winning just 32% of points on serve in the first set to 65% in the second, though still below Raducanu.
Match Statistics Emma Raducanu vs. Greet Minnen
| Emma Raducanu | VS | Greet Minnen |
|---|---|---|
| Service | ||
| 3 | Aces | 4 |
| 0 | Double Faults | 3 |
| 74% (28/38) | 1st Service Percentage | 68% (36/53) |
| 86% (24/28) | 1st Service Points Won | 61% (22/36) |
| 73% (8/11) | 2nd Service Points Won | 29% (5/17) |
| - (0/0) | Break Points Saved | 43% (3/7) |
| 100% (8/8) | Service Games | 50% (4/8) |
| Return | ||
| 39% (14/36) | 1st Return Points Won | 14% (4/28) |
| 71% (12/17) | 2nd Return Points Won | 27% (3/11) |
The Brit held firm on her serve, and without facing a single break point in the latter part of the set, Raducanu closed out the match 6-4, 6-0 after one hour and 11 minutes, advancing to the second round in Cluj-Napoca. Her next opponent will be Slovenian Kaja Juvan (No. 97).
As the first seed, Raducanu is competing in her first tournament since parting ways with her coach of recent months, the Spaniard Francisco Roig. This will be her only European event before heading to the Middle East, where her main targets this month will likely be the WTA 1000 Qatar Open and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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