Oleksandra Oliynykova reached her first-career WTA semifinal today, defeating Wang Xinyu 6-4 6-4 at the 2026 Transylvania Open. Draped in the Ukrainian flag, the 25-year-old celebrated the victory wearing temporary bat face tattoos to honor the tournament's theme.
Oliynykova saved 20 of 22 break points during the two-hour match, demonstrating the mental resilience that's defined her breakthrough season. The world No. 91 is now expected to climb 20 spots in the WTA rankings.
Oleksandra Oliynykova, a Ukranian refuge, has been making headlines for refusing handshakes with Russian and Russia-sympathizing competitors. That list includesNo. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
This week, she announced she wouldn't participate in the traditional prematch photo or postmatch handshake with Hungary's Anna Bondar. Her reasoning? Bondar's participation in the 2022 North Palmyra Trophies tournament in St. Petersburg, Russia. Oliynykova subsequently called funder Gazprom a financial pillar of Russia's war machine, saying she would reconsider if Bondar apologized to Ukraine's people.
The victory carried deep significance for Oliynykova, who fled Ukraine with her family in 2011 after her father criticized then-President Viktor Yanukovych. She then returned following the 2014 Revolution of Dignity, and currently trains in Kyiv despite the ongoing Russian invasion.
Nicknamed "Sashka," Oliynykova is on a tear. She recently pushed defending champion Madison Keys to a first-set tiebreaker in her Grand Slam debut. She now stands just two victories away from her first-ever WTA title.
How to watch Oksana Oliynykova at the 2026 Transylvania Open semifinals
Oliynykova takes on top-seeded Emma Raducanu on Friday at 10 AM ET, live on The Tennis Channel.
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.
Emma Raducanu secured a dominant victory at the Transylvania Open on Monday, defeating Belgium's Greet Minnen 6-0, 6-4 in her first competitive match since parting ways with coach Francis Roig.
The 23-year-old UK star showcased confidence in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, dispatching her opponent in convincing fashion. Raducanu took the opening set in just 25 minutes, winning 90% of her first-serve points as she raced to a 6-0 bagel.
Raducanu hired Rafael Nadal's former coach last summer but announced plans to reassess her approach following last month's second-round Australian Open exit. The partnership lasted approximately six months, resulting in yet another coaching change since her breakthrough 2021 US Open title.
Working with former British professional Alexis Canter in Romania, Raducanu appeared relaxed and focused. She broke Minnen's serve in the third game of the second set and maintained control despite the Belgian's strong challenge.
"Very happy today. I think I played a great match from the beginning," the world No. 30 said after the match. "I was super aggressive and the crowd from the minute I walked out was incredible."
The victory marks a positive restart for Raducanu, after struggling with injuries and inconsistent form in recent years.
How to watch British tennis star Emma Raducanu this week
As the WTA 250 tournament's top seed, Raducanu next faces Slovenia's Kaja Juvan on Wednesday, live on The Tennis Channel.
Following the event, she plans to compete at WTA 1000 tournaments in Doha and Dubai before heading to Indian Wells in March.