Emma Raducanu, the No. 1 seed and one of the Cluj crowd favorites, opened her Transylvania Open campaign in commanding fashion with a 6–0, 6–4 win over the experienced Greet Minnen.
“I’m very pleased with the match. I think I played very well from the start, and that helped me all the way through. I knew she could be very dangerous because indoors everything is decided by the first shots, and she has an excellent serve and return. So I’m happy with how I handled this situation,” Emma said in her post-match press conference.
Encouraged by the packed stands at BTarena, Emma came out firing, leaving nothing on the table. It was a first set in which Raducanu displayed her trademark fast, flat, precise tennis, to which Minnen had no answer. Everything Emma set out to do worked: she served extremely solidly — losing just one point on serve — returned aggressively, and used her forehand to great effect.
Although Minnen had a few better stretches in the second set, the level of accuracy and aggression Emma produced proved too much for the Belgian to truly enter the match.
Asked afterward how she feels in Cluj, Emma said:
“I’m very happy to be here. It’s really nice to feel so welcome. From the moment I stepped on court, I felt the crowd’s support. It was incredible. Hearing my name from the stands and feeling the atmosphere here meant a lot.”
What has changed in the past year?
“I know I’m far from perfect, but over the past year I’ve reached a point in my game where I’m much more aggressive. I think my serve is much better, and from there the way I construct points has improved. I think the matches and practices in Australia helped a lot in the form I brought here to Cluj. I didn’t feel very comfortable in Australia. It’s tough there — it depends on the time you’re scheduled to play, and the conditions are very different. But today I felt much better here.”
Was she expecting this level of support from the Cluj fans, five years after her previous appearance here?
“Yes, honestly, I have to say I was very emotional because of the welcome I received when I stepped onto the court. Throughout the match, I felt waves of support — during the games, between the games, before the important moments. For me, this kind of support means a lot, and I’m very grateful to receive this level of encouragement here in Romania. It makes me feel even more at home.”
How does she feel about recording the fastest win of her career (1 hour and 11 minutes)?
“I’m very happy. I think every match takes a huge amount of energy from you. Even though the first set was 6–0, I think people underestimate how difficult it is to stay that focused, even for 25–30 minutes, to be completely present and connected to every single point. That takes a lot of mental energy and concentration. So any opportunity to spend less time on court is something you want to take. I’m very proud of this result. I think it’s an excellent outcome and proof of the work I’ve put in over the past few weeks.”
Did she have the chance to speak with Simona Halep?
“Yes, it’s incredible how much has happened in five years. I can’t even believe that much time has passed. I saw her in the front row toward the end of the match. I knew she was there and I tried not to think too much about it, so I wouldn’t get emotional. It was very special to know she was present, but I haven’t had the chance to speak with her yet. I hope I will this week.”
