Transylvania Open Final Round-up | Emma Raducanu battered in clinical display by Sorana Cirstea who triumphs on home soil
WTASunday, 08 February 2026 at 09:10
Emma Raducanu's wait for a first WTA title since the 2021 US Open continues after a poor performance in the 2026 Transylvania Open final against Sorana Cirstea, who performed to a high level to win 6-0, 6-2 in just 63 minutes on court.
Cirstea went into the final in blistering form, taking down the reigning champion Anastasia Potapova in the last-eight before dropping just three games in her semi-final triumph. She wasted no time in getting out of the blocks, winning the opening seven games against a struggling Raducanu.
Injury could have been the reason for this Raducanu demise, who was seen by the doctors in the second set before getting on the board. A decisive break to make it 4-2 looked like it had sealed the deal for Cirstea, who saw it out with ease. She takes home a fourth WTA title in her final season, with Raducanu losing a first ever WTA final in woeful fashion.
Raducanu on the end of trouncing in Cluj
From the off, it looked like that Raducanu would be on the
back foot. Cirstea won the first seven points of the match, holding before
creating three break point chances early on. The Brit recovered those points,
but on the sixth break opportunity Cirstea was there to pounce and took the
early advantage.
Another hold from the Romanian put her halfway to sealing
the first set, and she took a large step in the right direction with another gritty
break with sloppy errors from Raducanu mixed with some quality from Cirstea
keeping the 35-year-old motoring away. A double fault from Raducanu culminated
the first set, summing up a really poor opening set for the British number one.
The second set continued in the same trend. Cirstea held to
love as she smashed a big ace down the line. Another break point was clinically
taken after some quality tennis by the home favourite, but Raducanu was finally
able to get the set levelled.
There were concerning signs for her, with the physio and
doctor coming on to examine Raducanu. She was deemed fit enough to continue,
with a comeback firmly on her mind.
The injury did not seem to bother her too much as she got
back on level terms. Cirstea made hard work of re-taking the lead of the set before
a much more convincing break looked like to be the nail in the coffin of
Raducanu’s title charge in Cluj.
A hold t love put the world number 32 one away, and she had
no trouble in seeing out a hugely popular title in Romania. A sixth double fault
from Raducanu seals the championship on home soil. She rises to world number 31
in the WTA rankings, but it is huge disappointment for Raducanu whose long wait
for a WTA title continues.
Match Statistics Emma Raducanu vs. Sorana Cirstea
| Emma Raducanu | VS | Sorana Cirstea |
|---|---|---|
| Service | ||
| 0 | Aces | 6 |
| 6 | Double Faults | 2 |
| 71% (37/52) | 1st Service Percentage | 51% (19/37) |
| 49% (18/37) | 1st Service Points Won | 84% (16/19) |
| 13% (2/16) | 2nd Service Points Won | 56% (10/18) |
| 57% (8/14) | Break Points Saved | 0% (0/1) |
| 14% (1/7) | Service Games | 86% (6/7) |
| Return | ||
| 16% (3/19) | 1st Return Points Won | 51% (19/37) |
| 44% (8/18) | 2nd Return Points Won | 88% (14/16) |
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- This person has arguably always been a 'problem personality'. Rarely, if ever, has he been The Solution to any matter in sports. More often combative and accusatory via media blurbs and texts. As for his "great success" as a coach -- the planets were aligned in his favor the day The Williams Family signed on to him. The William sisters were going to succeed regardless of his, or anyone else's, input. If you want to know how other players' have been affected by his "coaching" simply study the graphics on a chart. Average results, with a degree of combativeness and animosity in every camp. His "success" is entirely attributed to the natural Williams talent(s). Not unlike Raducanu's claim to fame of winning one title.
- Quinwen learned it's better to have friends in tennis. Happy to see she has changed her attitude on the circuit.
- Remind her the racquet is in HER hand, not any coach.
- My advice to Coco is take a few months off from the tour and focus on the serve. If MacMillan is not producing the expected results, relieve him of his duties and hire someone else. To hell with the rankings and what people will say. Just take a break. Mental health is far more important than money.
- Eventually (as other sports have done) WTA will be forced to make DNA / Gender Testing mandatory in order to protect and promote fairness in competitions. End of so-called 'controversy'.
- It's sad... but Rybakina is not going to be able to endure her groomer's interference in Life and still excel to her best level. BTW: No media has reported her last sentence to the physio. They kept asking questions and she abruptly told them: "I know what it is; I'm ready to go now".
- You seem to have 'lost the plot' ??
- This needs to be done, and I think Jessica Pegula is an excellent choice for chair to look into the situation. However, a very brief look at the other members of the panel would suggest a very USA heavy contingent. The group needs to represent all interests, not just turn it into a way the US can screw more money out of an already biased calendar.
- The tennis world should be kissing her feet for taking-on this long needed position in a much needed council. The WTA and ATP need a good shaking-up. Pegula's business heritage is a proven one. Let's hope she and her colleagues can stop WTA & ATP from shutting their work down and out. GO GET 'EM !!
- So the Sportswasher's largest market is... the Filipino community? That's all well and good but the hundreds and hundreds of empty seats throughout is embarrassing. Talk about bad optics!
Loading