Word No. 30 Emma Raducanu is one match away from her first WTA final since her 2021 US Open upset, advancing to the Transylvania Open semifinals with a 6-0 6-4 victory over Poland's Maja Chwalinska.
Top-seeded Raducanu dominated from the opening point, limiting Chwalinska to just seven points in the first set. While the second set proved more competitive, Raducanu broke decisively at 3-3 following a Chwalinska double-fault. She subsequently served out the match with confidence.
Raducanu next faces Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova in Friday's semifinal, marking her fourth-career semis appearance. The 23-year-old British No. 1 hasn't dropped in Romania, demonstrating the aggressive style that secured her Grand Slam win nearly five years ago.
The 2026 Transylvania Open represents significant opportunity for Raducanu, after struggling with injuries and coaching instability. She recently split from coach Francisco Roig following a second-round Australian Open exit, marking her 10th coaching change in five years.
Despite the coaching carousel, Raducanu showed resilience in early rounds, mounting a comeback from 5-0 down against Kaja Juvan to win 13 of the final 14 games. That mental toughness could prove crucial as she pursues her first WTA title since 2021.
Russian-born Austrian Anastasia Potapova lurks in the opposite half of the draw, potentially awaiting a final rematch with Raducanu.
For now, however, Raducanu is focused on Oliynykova, as she seeks to extend her dominant bounce-back run at this year's Transylvania Open.
How to watch Emma Raducanu in the 2026 Transylvania Open semis
Emma Raducanu takes the court against Oleksandra Oliynykova in tomorrow's WTA 250 tournament semifinal, live on The Tennis Channel.
