Emma Raducanu reaches first WTA final since 2021 US Open with hard fought victory at Transylvania Open

The long waut for a final appearance is finally over for Emma Raducanu. She ends this streak with a tight 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Oleksandra Oliynykova in the Transylvania Open.

The Brit has finally broken the final drought, going back to the 2021 US Open where she cemented her name in history as an 18-year-old. Since then, injuries and inconsistent form has prevented her from reaching those heights again, but finally she is able to call herself a WTA finalist once more with the title in sight.

The first set took 72 minutes, which was longer than two of Raducanu’s opening matches in Cluj. She did manage to come out on the right side, but was not going to get away that easily. A five-game streak from Oliynykova stole the second set away from Raducnau.

The world number 91 had recently picked up her first ever top 50 win and a maiden WTA semi-final. She looked on course to possibly add a first WTA final to the list of achievments in Cluj after breaking to go 2-1 up. However, she was set to get a taste of her own medicine with the former world number 10 winning 16 on the trot enroute to confirming her spot in the Transylvania Open final in a match that lasted akmost three hours.

Raducanu was on the backfoot in the early stages of the match, trying to contend with the aggressive start her opponent commenced with, firing some big forehands back her way. Eventually she settled in the match as she looked to take control of the first set.

She looked to have put her opponent firmly in trouble with a clinical break of serve. She was now looking to serve it out, but had to override three break chances Oliynykova had, but she survived them ahead of creating a first set point. This was not taken and she was punished for it as Oliynykova levelled the match.

A third game in a row went to deuce, and it featured six of them. Oliynykova went 40-0 ahead but was pegged back with Raducanu going on to create three more break point opportunities. She took the third one before a commanding hold to love saw her take the first set and take a huge step towards the final.

This was included in an 11-point swing for the British number one who backed up her positive end to the set with an ominous break to love as she looked to up the gears with a clear pathway to the final in sight. Oliynykova had other ideas, and with her fourth shot executed a break back into the second set.

It would be met by a ruthless Raducanu, with her not wanting anymore slip ups. She instantly broke back to love with the first eight points against the former US Open champion going her way in the second set. Another false horizon it would be for the 23-year-old who would suffer a huge downturn in form.

After taking a 3-1 lead, Oliynykova won five games on the bounce to rampantly run towards a level match. She then kept the heat up with an early break of throw after Raducanu broke the rut. After another gruelling rally, Raducanu created two break points to get back on terms in this semi-final. She took the second one and ended this damaging blip on court.

A reasonable hold to love got her in front for the first time since this stage of the second set. Another four consecutive points saw her break the Ukrainian, not just in tennis terms but in human terms as well, getting her nose in further in front despite a resilient effort from her opponent. A third 40-0 scoreline put her within a game of the final, but Oliynykova saved all three match points enroute to getting another game on the board.

It would all be in vain as Raducanu saw it out in serve and will await the winner of Sorana Cirstea and Daria Snigur in a highly anticipated final in Romania on February 7.