Emma Raducanu took a step closer towards her first final since her US Open triumph after storming into the semi-finals of the Transylvania Open.
If Raducanu’s critics feared her game would take a dip after ditching her most recent coach, the 23-year-old answered them emphatically with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Poland’s Maja Chwalinska.
In her third match since parting ways with Francis Roig after the Australian Open, Raducanu, who is the top seed at this WTA 250 event, played with uninhibited freedom and flair to set up a semi-final showdown with Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova.
Raducanu has been the top seed at four previous WTA tournaments throughout her career, but has never been able to finish any of them with a trophy. Having dropped just 14 games all week in Romania, the country of her father’s birth, she is in fine shape to finally break that streak.
After winning 11 games in a row against Kaja Juvan on Wednesday, Raducanu made it 19 in 20 before Chwalinska finally got on the scoreboard at the start of the second set.
Following the opening set bagel, Chwalinska, the world number No 146 upped her game and Raducanu’s level dropped slightly as the match became more competitive. Just when it seemed Raducanu would run away with the match after breaking to lead 3-2, Chwalinska broke straight back. However, Raducanu made it three breaks in row to lead 4-3 and comfortably served out the match.
“I’m very happy with my performance. I played a great match from the beginning and I was pleased I could get off to that start,” said Raducanu, who finished her on-court interview in Romanian. “Of course, there’s always moments of adversity to overcome and I did that pretty well in the second set.”
Full report to follow...
WATCH: Raducanu completes victory in straight sets
Raducanu reacts
“I’m very happy with my performance. I played a great match from the beginning and I was pleased I could get off to that start.
“Of course, there’s always moments of adversity to overcome and I did that pretty well in the second set.”
Raducanu* 6-0, 6-4 Chwalinska
Tight backhand from Raducanu goes long, 0-15. She responds with a huge cross court forehand that is too hot for Chwalinska. Frustration for Chwalinska as she dumps a backhand into the net. Raducanu two points away now...
Raducanu forehand down the middle is a winner. Two match points...
Raducanu volley winner... GAME SET MATCH RADUCANU!!
Raducanu 6-0, 5-4 Chwalinska*
Shot of the match from Chwalinska as she anticipates Raducanu’s forehand down the line and drills a backhand back past the advancing Raducanu, 30-0.
Raducanu forehand return wide and Chwalinska holds. After the sit down, Raducanu will serve for the win and a place in the semi-finals.
Raducanu* 6-0, 5-3 Chwalinska
Great hustle from Raducanu to chase down Chwalinska’s drop shot then run back to get Chwalinska’s lob. Raducanu puts up a defensive blog and Chwalinska hits her overhead into the net. Raducanu consolidates the break and Chwalinska will now serve to stay in the match.
Raducanu 6-0, 4-3 Chwalinska*
Raducanu will not want to give Chwalinska any encouragement her and needs to reassert her dominance. Chwalinska is playing her best tennis of the match but that was really good from Raducanu as she relentlessly attacks the forehand side of Chwalinska and finally penetrates to get a break point, 30-40.
Chwalinska goes for a wide second serve but misses the line and the ball lands out. Raducanu breaks again.
Raducanu* 6-0, 3-3 Chwalinska
First double fault of the match for Raducanu makes it 30-15. She then hits a wild forehand, probably going for too much with that shot.
Great scrambling from Chwalinska to stay in the rally and Raducanu blinks first, flicking a forehand into the net. Break point Chwalinska.
Raducanu drags Chwalinska left then right but the Pole composes herself and takes control of the rally. A backhand down the line and Raducanu slices into the net.
Chwalinska breaks.
Raducanu 6-0, 3-2 Chwalinska*
An opening for Raducanu as she moves to 0-30 with a backhand winner past Chwalinska at the net. Double fault from Chwalinska gifts Raducanu three chances to break.
Another double fault and Raducanu is really in the driving seat now.
Raducanu breaks.
Raducanu* 6-0, 2-2 Chwalinska
Another request from the umpire to spectators to put their phones on silent. Bizarre that people need to be reminded of this at a tennis event.
Nevertheless, Raducanu keeps her cool and holds to 30 when Chwalinska dumps a backhand return into the net.
Raducanu 6-0, 1-2 Chwalinska*
Signs of irriation from Raducanu as she loses the game to 15 and speaks to umpire Miriam Bley about mobile phones going off in the crowd.
Important for Raducanu to refocus and not get distracted by off court noise.
Raducanu* 6-0, 1-1 Chwalinska
Two points dropped on serve for Raducanu but still a very comfortable service hold. Chwalinska having no enjoy in these returning games.
Second Set: Raducanu 6-0, 0-1 Chwalinska* (*denotes server)
Chwalinska left the court after a harrowing first-set for a comfort break. And it appears to have done the trick as she comes out all guns blazing with two winners and an ace.
First game of the match on the board for Chwalinska.
Raducanu* 6-0 Chwalinska
Serving for the opening set, Raducanu begins the game by drilling a backhand down the line for a winner. Another backhand winner makes it 30-0. Relentless ball striking.
Raducanu moves to three set points when Chwalinska’s defensive forehand flies long. First point dropped on the Raducanu serve when she sends a forehand long.
But Raducanu closes out the game and the set when her deep forehand pushes Chwalinska wide and the Pole’s backhand up the line drops in the tramlines.
Simply too good from the top seed.
Impressive stuff from Raducanu, who has now won 19 of her last 20 games. She’s stamped her authority all over the court and has just lost a single point on serve. Stats which will no doubt please Alexis Canter, her hitting partner (interim coach?) who is watching courtside has been applauding politely.
Raducanu 5-0 Chwalinska*
One way traffic in Cluj-Napoca as Raducanu moves effortlessly to three points at 0-40. And the pressure tells as Chwalinska dumps a second serve into the net for a double fault.
Raducanu breaks and will serve for the set.
Raducanu* 4-0 Chwalinska
Everytime Chwalinska drops the ball short, Raducanu gratefully accepts the chance to come forward and finish the point. A forehand winner is followed by a backhand winner and it is 40-0. Chwalinska slices a defensive backhand into the net.
No points dropped on serve yet for the top seed.
Raducanu 3-0 Chwalinska*
Raducanu is making Chwalinska work for every point and she keeps the game alive, going from 0-30 to deuce. Chwalinska tamely slices a backhand into the net and Raducanu has a break point.
Chwalinska second serve, Raducanu steps into it and crashes a backhand down the line for a winner. Brilliant shot.
Raducanu breaks again.
Raducanu* 2-0 Chwalinska
Raducanu talked about being aggressive earlier in the week and her forehand is firing right now. She is playing with real authority and confidence. And so far Chwalinska has no answer.
Raducanu backs up the break by holding serve to love.
A no-nonsense, aggressive start from Emma Raducanu, backing up an early break with a hold to love. Quite a different story from her previous outing against Kaja Juvan, when she clawed back a 5-0 deficit. She already looks a level above the Pole, who can’t seem to handle her forehand firepower.
First set: Emma Raducanu 1-0 Maja Chwalinska* (*denotes server)
Chwalinska is a leftie so that will pose something different for Raducanu today. First winner of the match from Raducanu as she sends a cross-court backhand past Chwalinska, 15-15.
Aggressive start from Raducanu as she forces Chwalinska to send a forehand long but the Pole responds with a swinging wide ace, 30-30.
Chwalinska drop shot drags Raducanu to the net, the Briton hits a slice deep and Chwalinska’s lob goes long to give Raducanu a break point.
Raducanu forehand into the net just as she was settling into the rally, opportunity missed, deuce. But she gets another chance to break when Chwalinska double faults.
Attack mode from Raducanu, Chwalinska drops a forehand short and the Briton steps in and crashes a forehand winner into the corner.
Raducanu breaks.
Raducanu’s unwanted record
Raducanu has lost seven of her eight quarter-final matches. She has only reached a semi-final once since winning the US Open in 2021.
Today is a good day to change that.
Raducanu eyes semi-final spot
Hello and welcome to coverage from the Transylvania Open as Emma Raducanu bids to reach the semi-finals in Cluj-Napoca.
The British No 1 has safely come through her first two matches in straight sets and today faces Maja Chwalinska of Poland.
This is the first match up between them but Raducanu is the clear favourite over her opponent, who is ranked 146 in the world.
On Wednesday, Raducanu’s battling qualities where on display as she fought back from 5-0 down in the first set to beat Kaja Juvan 7-5, 6-1.
The tournament top seed won 10 straight games and 13 of the final 14 to see off the Slovenian and seal a place in the quarter-final.
Afterwards she said to the crowd in the Romanian city of Cluj: “Thank you for the support, it really got me through some tricky moments in that first set.
“I have to say Kaja was playing some great tennis, was putting me on the back foot straightaway. I thought I was being aggressive, going for my shots, but I was missing and not executing.
“At least I can say I was trying to play on my terms. That was the goal for me. I don’t think I’ve ever come back from 5-0 down before so that’s a first to add to the experience.
“Thank you for staying and waiting so long, I appreciate it, it means a lot. Now I’ve got to try and recover straightaway. It’s not much time but hopefully the schedule is kind to me and I can find some energy and hopefully I’ll see you guys out there and you’ll give me some energy.”
Raducanu can expect plenty of support again today when she takes on Chwalinska, who knocked out Olga Danilovic in the last round.