Emma Raducanu secured a spot in the final of the Transylvania Open after defeating Oleksandra Oliynykova in a three-set semi-final clash in Cluj, Romania. The British No 1, seeded top at this WTA 250 event, triumphed 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, marking her fifth tour-level semi-final appearance.
Raducanu captured the opening set by breaking critical points but lost momentum as Oliynykova claimed the second set 6-3. In the decider, despite losing her serve early, Raducanu quickly regained control, winning four of five games to close out the match and earn her place in the final scheduled for Saturday.
Upcoming Opponent and Raducanu’s Reflections
Her opponent in the final will be either Ukrainian Daria Snigur or Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, who is seeded third. Both players are set to contest their semi-final later, with live coverage airing on Sky Sports Tennis.
“What an incredible match,” Raducanu said after her victory.
“All props to my opponent today, Ollie. She played incredible. Makes it so tricky to put any ball past her. You think it’s past her and then the ball is on your baseline or your sideline.”
So it’s so difficult. But so proud of how I competed, how I came back in the third set, how I managed the match.
— Emma Raducanu, British No 1
Katie Boulter Secures Fifth Career Final with Convincing Win
Meanwhile, British No 2 Katie Boulter reached the final of the Ostrava Open after a commanding performance against American Katie Volynets, winning 6-1, 6-3. This marks Boulter’s fifth career final appearance and her third consecutive match won in straight sets during the tournament.
Boulter took the first set decisively in just over thirty minutes. Though Volynets elevated her game in the second set, Boulter maintained control throughout, managing to withstand pressure and close out the win without dropping a set in this latest encounter.
I’m never satisfied but obviously really pleased with today,
Boulter remarked.
“She really stepped up in the second set – I tried to match it as much as I could, keep trusting myself no matter what and it paid off in the end.”
The breaks could have easily shifted the momentum and but I didn’t allow that to happen.
— Katie Boulter, British No 2
Boulter’s Positive Outlook and Motivation
In good spirits after her victory, Boulter expressed extra motivation ahead of the final, noting her coach Michael Joyce’s upcoming birthday. She joked about dedicating a potential trophy to him as a present.
“It’s been a great week for me – It’s Micky [Joyce’s] birthday tomorrow and I’m going to try and get him a present – a trophy!”
she said.
We’re going to leave it all on the line.
— Katie Boulter
Significance and What to Watch Next
Raducanu’s return to a final signals a potential renaissance after a challenging period following her US Open success, while Boulter’s consistent form during this season highlights her rising confidence on the tour. Both British players are positioned for important showdowns that could boost their rankings and momentum ahead of the upcoming tennis calendar.
Fans can follow these finals live on Sky Sports Tennis, with comprehensive coverage available via the Sky Sports app or NOW streaming service, offering extensive access to WTA and ATP events throughout the year.
