"When the ‘Haide’s’ come out, it means that I’m getting really gritty": Half-Romanian Emma Raducanu brings out mantra in Cluj run
WTAFriday, 06 February 2026 at 22:30
Emma Raducanu booked her place in the final of the Transylvania Open with a hard-fought 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Oleksandra Oliynykova in Cluj-Napoca, sealing her second career tour-level final and setting up a showdown with home favourite Sorana Cîrstea.
After an intense three-set battle at the Transylvania Open, Raducanu was quick to praise her opponent, acknowledging just how difficult Oliynykova made the contest from start to finish.
She went on a real tear to earn three match points at 5-2 only for Oliynykova to save herself by claiming eight points from a possible nine. She set up a possibility that she could win another game and be serving to level the set at 5-5.
However the Ukrainian went long and handed Raducanu her fourth straight victory after splitting from her coach Francisco Roig and is just the second WTA Tour final of her career.
“I mean, yeah, what an incredible match. All props to my opponent today — she played incredible,” Raducanu said post match. “It makes it so tricky to put any ball past her. You think it’s past her and then the ball is on your baseline or on your sideline, so it’s so difficult.”
Despite dropping the second set, Raducanu showed resilience in the decider, something she highlighted as her biggest takeaway from the match.
“I’m most proud of how I competed, how I came back in the third set, how I managed the match,” she reflected. “And honestly, I don’t know if I could have done it without everyone’s support today, so thank you so much.”
The Brit was backed loudly by the crowd throughout the contest, with many Romanian fans cheering her on as if she were playing at home — something Raducanu admitted took her by surprise.
“I mean, it’s just an incredible feeling,” she said. “I really feel like I’m at home here, so thank you so much, everyone.”
The meaning of Haide
One moment that caught the attention of spectators was Raducanu shouting “Haide” — a Romanian word meaning “come on” — during key points late in the match. Asked about it afterwards, she explained it was a sign of her competitive instincts kicking in.
“When the ‘Haide’s’ come out, it means that I’m getting really gritty,” Raducanu said. “It kind of just comes out — since juniors really — whenever it was really tight, it would just come out.
“And I guess that’s when a true competitor comes out in me. So I’m really happy with how I came through this, and it’s so nice to hear everyone’s support and everyone’s ‘Haide’s’, so let’s go.”
With little time to recover before the final, Raducanu kept her closing message to the crowd short but heartfelt.
“Today I’m very tired to speak a lot of Romanian, but thank you so much,” she said. “And yeah, I can’t wait to play in the final tomorrow.”
Raducanu will face Sorana Cîrstea in the Transylvania Open final, with the home crowd set for another electric atmosphere as she looks to capture the title in Cluj-Napoca.
Albeit Cirstea will likely endure the lions share of support from the stands when she faces off against Raducanu. Cirstea is into her final year on the tour and would mark the perfect send off for the home legend. But can Raducanu win her first title since the 2021 US Open. A long time coming.
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