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Emma Raducanu made a powerful return to the winner’s circle with a commanding performance at the WTA 250 Transylvania Open, sending a clear message about her intent early in the 2026 season.
Competing in her first tournament since the Australian Open, the former US Open champion brushed aside Belgium’s Greet Minnen in emphatic fashion, winning 6-0, 6-4 in the opening round in Cluj-Napoca.
Raducanu returns to winning ways in Cluj-Napoca
After a disappointing second-round exit at the Australian Open against Anastasia Potapova, Raducanu arrived in Romania determined to rebuild momentum.
Entering the Transylvania Open as the top seed, the Brit was presented with an opportunity not just to progress deep into the tournament, but also to regain confidence ahead of the upcoming Middle East swing.
Emma Raducanu needed just one hour and nine minutes to dispatch Minnen, underlining the gulf in control and consistency between the two players on the indoor hard courts.
The victory marked an important step forward for the 22-year-old as she looks to re-establish herself among the WTA elite.
Bagel first set sets the tone
The opening moments of the match immediately tilted in Raducanu’s favor. She earned break opportunities in the very first game and converted them after a tightly contested start.
From there, her dominance was near total. Raducanu won 15 consecutive points, racing into a commanding lead while Minnen struggled to find any rhythm.
By the time the Belgian got on the scoreboard, Raducanu was already 4-0 ahead, capitalizing on an unforced error.
The Brit showed no signs of letting up, securing her third break of the set before serving with remarkable precision. The first set concluded 6-0 in just 26 minutes, with Emma Raducanu winning 74% of the total points contested.
Her serving statistics in particular stood out. Raducanu landed 72% of her first serves, winning an impressive 86% of those points, while also claiming 73% of points behind her second serve. She dropped only seven points on serve in the entire match and did not face a single break point.
Minnen improves, but Emma Raducanu stays in control
The second set saw Minnen offer more resistance, holding serve in the opening game and briefly finding a better rhythm.
However, Raducanu quickly reasserted her authority from the baseline, showcasing her clean groundstrokes and comfort in the indoor conditions.
After the opening game, Raducanu won three consecutive games to move 3-1 ahead, securing another crucial break.
While Minnen improved her serving efficiency in the second set—raising her points won on serve from 32% in the first set to 65%—it was still not enough to trouble Raducanu consistently.
The Brit managed the remainder of the set with composure, maintaining her advantage and closing out the match 6-4 without facing significant pressure.
A confidence-boosting start to the tournament
Emma Raducanu’s performance in Cluj-Napoca was about more than just advancing to the next round. The manner of her victory, marked by dominance on serve and control from the baseline, suggested a player growing in confidence after an uneven start to the year.
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