Emma Raducanu’s long-awaited return to a tour-level final ended in disappointment on Saturday as Sorana Cîrstea delivered a commanding performance to win the Transylvania Open title in Cluj-Napoca. Playing in front of a partisan home crowd, the Romanian overwhelmed Raducanu 6-0, 6-2 to secure a one-sided victory.
It was Raducanu’s first final appearance since her historic 2021 US Open triumph, but the occasion quickly slipped away from the Briton as Cîrstea imposed herself from the opening game. Sharp on the return and aggressive on serve, the 35-year-old Romanian consistently rushed Raducanu, denying her time to settle into rallies.
Raducanu struggled to find rhythm as the match progressed and appeared physically uncomfortable from late in the first set. During the second set, she received a blood-pressure check on court and was visibly out of sorts, compounding her difficulties against an opponent who sensed the moment. Cîrstea raised her intensity as Raducanu faded, stepping inside the baseline and taking control of points early.
Errors also crept into Raducanu’s game at crucial moments. She double-faulted on multiple game points, including on the final point of the match, and was unable to capitalise on attacking positions after her serve. A brief spark came early in the second set when Raducanu managed to break serve, but the momentum was short-lived as Cîrstea quickly reasserted her dominance.
For Cîrstea, the title carried special significance. Competing in what she has indicated will be her final season on tour, the Romanian soaked in the support from the Cluj-Napoca crowd and produced one of her most clinical performances of the year. Speaking after the match, she expressed gratitude to the fans and reflected on how meaningful the victory was on home soil.
Despite the heavy defeat, Raducanu’s week in Romania was not without positives. She showed resilience earlier in the tournament, notably recovering from a 0-5 deficit to defeat Kaja Juvan and navigating a tricky three-set encounter against Oleksandra Oliynykova. The event also marked her first tournament since parting ways with coach Francis Roig, with British hitting partner Alexis Canter accompanying her.
While the final proved a step too far, Raducanu’s return to a championship match remains a notable milestone as she continues her efforts to rebuild momentum on the WTA Tour.
