Emma Raducanu’s hopes of winning her maiden WTA Tour title were ended in the Transylvania Open final by veteran Sorana Cirstea.
The British No 1 had a shot at winning her first tournament since her incredible US Open success in 2021 and announcing herself as a real force on the WTA Tour.
But her hopes were shattered in a 6-0 6-2 defeat in Cluj-Napoca, where support was evenly split between home favourite Cirstea and Raducanu, whose father is Romanian.
“I want to thank the public. You really made me feel at home this week. Sorry, today I couldn’t bring my best. But congratulations as well to Sorana – you’ve had an incredible week. I think you’re playing great tennis. I don’t know if this is your last tournament in Cluj here, but I know if it were me, I’d be out on a high. Congrats on everything,” said Raducanu.
Raducanu had defeated Greet Minnen before recovering from 5-0 down in the first set to beat Slovenian Kaja Juvan. She then bossed her way into the semi-finals with a straight-sets demolition of Poland’s Maja Chwalinska.
She was physically shattered and needed treatment for a problem to her right shoulder after a near three-hour battle with Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova in the semi-finals.
