Transylvania Open: Emma Raducanu holds her nerve to reach first final since 2021 US Open win

Raducanu suffered a lukewarm second-round exit at the Australian Open in January and subsequently parted ways with coach Francisco Roig.

However, she showed real determination throughout her run in Romania to reach the final.

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

“I don’t think I could have done it without the support of everyone 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 win.

The only hope on her land, Sorana Cirstea, now stands between Raducanu and her first piece of silver in five years.

Raducanu failed to serve the first set the first time, allowing Olenikova to break before winning the next two games, deciding the matter after a grueling hour and 15 minutes.

But the top seed’s momentum faltered further in the second set and she was broken three times when Olenikova was forced to take a decider as Raducano had to fight back from a break point.

After wasting the first two match points at 5-3, the British player saved two break points and won the third time.

The win ended a six-match losing streak in deciders for Raducano, while it was her first three-set win since beating Ann Lee in the first round at Eastbourne in June.