Cîrstea Dominates Raducanu 6-0, 6-2 to Claim Transylvania Open Title on Home Soil

Sorana Cîrstea produced a devastating display to claim the Transylvania Open title on Saturday, overwhelming Emma Raducanu 6-0, 6-2 in a one-sided final that lasted just 63 minutes in Cluj-Napoca. The 36-year-old Romanian veteran delighted her home crowd with a near-flawless performance, denying Raducanu her first WTA title since the 2021 US Open triumph.

Cîrstea stormed out of the gates with ruthless efficiency, winning the opening seven games of the match as Raducanu struggled to find any rhythm on serve or in the baseline exchanges. The British number one appeared hampered by a shoulder concern that had troubled her during the week, though she declined to use it as an excuse afterward. Cîrstea's aggressive returns and precise groundstrokes kept Raducanu constantly on the defensive, preventing the 2021 US Open champion from establishing any foothold in the contest.

The second set offered little respite for Raducanu, who finally held serve to get on the board at 0-2 down before breaking back to level at 2-2. However, that brief moment of resistance proved fleeting as Cîrstea immediately broke serve again and reeled off four consecutive games to close out the championship. The Romanian's experience shone through in the crucial moments, with her first-serve percentage reaching 71% and 23 winners complementing just 15 unforced errors.

For Raducanu, the heavy defeat extends her wait for a second WTA title beyond four and a half years since her fairytale run at Flushing Meadows. The 23-year-old had shown encouraging form throughout the tournament, defeating higher-ranked opponents to reach her first final since that magical US Open triumph. However, she was completely outplayed by an inspired Cîrstea, who barely gave her a chance to settle into the match. Raducanu acknowledged her opponent's superior level while expressing satisfaction with her week's work overall.

Cîrstea's victory marks her fourth WTA singles title and her first since Strasbourg in 2021, ending a near four-year drought at age 36. The triumph carries special significance as it came on Romanian soil before passionate home support, with Cîrstea visibly emotional during the trophy ceremony. Her aggressive baseline game proved too powerful for Raducanu, particularly on the forehand wing where she consistently found angles and depth to push the British player behind the baseline.

Both players now turn their attention to the Middle East swing, with tournaments in Dubai and Doha on the immediate horizon. Raducanu will take encouragement from reaching a final despite the lopsided scoreline, while Cîrstea's confidence-boosting title run proves that experience and tactical nous can still prevail on the WTA Tour. The Romanian's commanding performance served as a reminder that women's tennis remains fiercely competitive at all levels, with veterans capable of producing their best tennis when motivation and home support align.