Raducanu reaches first final since 2021 US Open triumph

Emma Raducanu dug deep to secure a gritty win over Oleksandra Oliynykova and reach her first final since her 2021 US Open triumph.

Aged just 18, Raducanu stunned the sporting world when she enjoyed a fairytale run to become the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam with victory in New York.

Her attempts to build on that historic success have been disrupted by countless injuries and several coaching changes, with Raducanu struggling to find consistent form on the WTA Tour.

She had lost her past three semi-finals on the WTA Tour, meaning the US Open remains her sole senior trophy.

But the British number one held her nerve on Friday to claim a 7-5 3-6 6-3 win after almost three hours on court against Ukraine’s Oliynykova to reach the final of the Transylvania Open.

Fellow Briton Katie Boulter also made a breakthrough at the Ostrava Open, beating American Katie Volynets to make her first final in over 15 months.

Raducanu suffered a listless second-round exit at January’s Australian Open and subsequently split with coach Francisco Roig.

However, she has shown real grit throughout her run in Romania to reach the final.

“I’m so proud of how I competed, how I came back in the third set and how I managed the match,” Raducanu said.

“I don’t think I could have done it without everyone’s support here so thank you so much.”

Raducanu’s father, Ion, is from Bucharest and an exhausted but thrilled Raducanu briefly addressed the crowd in Romanian after her victory.

Only home hope Sorana Cirstea now stands between Raducanu and her first piece of silverware in five years.

Raducanu failed to serve out the opening set at the first time of asking, allowing Oliynykova to break back before winning the next two games – wrapping it up after a gruelling hour and 15 minutes.

But the top seed’s momentum faltered further in the second set and she was broken three times as Oliynykova forced a decider, where Raducanu was forced to fight back from a break down.

And after missing her first two match points at 5-3, the Briton saved two break-back points and served out the win at the third time of asking.

Boulter, meanwhile, will have the chance to win her first trophy on the WTA Tour since defending her Nottingham title in June 2024.

The British number four beat Volynets 6-1 6-3 to set up a meeting with Tamara Korpatsch in Saturday’s showpiece.

It is Boulter’s first final since she split from her long-time coach Biljana Veselinovic late last year and appointed Michael Joyce at the start of 2026.

The 29-year-old said she wanted to gift Joyce – the former coach of five-time major winner Maria Sharapova – some silverware on his “birthday week”.

“It’s Mickey’s birthday week so I’m going to try and get him a birthday present tomorrow, which is the trophy,” Boulter said.

“I’m going to put everything on the line. We’re going to keep celebrating his birthday for the next month.”