Emma Raducanu into first WTA semi-final since July 2025 as she blasts past qualifier in statement victory at Transylvania Open

The form is very much there for Emma Raducanu in the Transylvania Open after she comfortably disposes of qualifier Maja Chwalinska 6-0, 6-4 to book a spot in the semi-finals of a WTA event for the first time since July at the DC Open.

Similar to her opening round match in Romania, Raducanu came flying out of the blocks as she took no time at all to seal a first set bagel. The second set was slightly tougher with her Polish opponent finally settling in the match but whatever she threw at the number one seed was rebuffed as Raducanu continues to make progress in this event.

It is the first competition since the split with Francisco Roig after a slow start to the season. She only managed on match in the United Cup before a hugely disappointing loss in this stage of the Hobart International while being the top seed. She exited in the second round of the Australian Open, culminating a frustrating opening month of the year.

It has not come easy in Romania, despite her not yet dropping a set. She got past Greet Minnen in the last-32 by the same scoreline before surviving a scare against Jaja Juvan, going 5-0 down in the first set before dropping just one more game for the rest of the match. She had no such problems here today as the title starts to come into view.

It could have been a tricky last-eight tie for Raducanu. She was playing against an inform opposition, despite her ranking, who was also left-handed. This, however, did not faze the 23-year-old one bit. She stormed out into a commanding lead, breaking in the first game before settling with a hold to love. Another drawn out game saw Raducanu stay on top with a double break advantage.

Those last two points from the third game commenced a stunning period for the former US Open champion. She would go on to win 13 points in a row, which included a hold and break to love before she almost wrapped it up with another hold to love but was prevented of 14 on the spin. She got over the line the next time of asking to sail out in front in just 24 minutes of action.

Chwalinska managed to finally get a game on the board but needed a lot more than that if she was going to find a route back into this match. The 24-year-old stayed with Raducanu for the first four games before a break of serve looked to be the nail in the coffin for Chwalinska.

Nevertheless, from 30-0 down on the Raducanu serve Chwalinska was able to tick off four consecutive points to break back and finally get a foot hold in this match. Raducanu did not take to this kindly, instantly regaining her break advantage before losing just one point on serve for the rest of the match as she quite comfortably defeated her opponent and confirmed a spot in the semi-finals.

Here the number one seed will go blow for blow against Oleksandra Oliynykova for a spot n a first WTA final since the 2021 US Open, and only her second ever. On the other side of the draw the reigning champion Anastasia Potapova is up next against home hero Sorana Cirstea while Yue Yuan and Daria Snigur complete the last-eight action in eastern Europe.