Emma Raducanu Cruises Into Cluj-Napoca Semifinals With Dominant 6-0, 6-4 Victory Over Chwalinska

Top seed Emma Raducanu delivered a commanding performance at the Transylvania Open on Thursday, overpowering Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska 6-0, 6-4 in just one hour and 10 minutes to reach the semifinals in Cluj-Napoca. The British star showed no mercy from the opening game, racing through the first set without dropping a single game or facing a break point.

Raducanu's clinical display was reminiscent of her 2021 US Open triumph, as she broke Chwalinska's serve three times in the opening set to establish complete control. The 24-year-old from Kent found her rhythm immediately on the indoor hard courts at BT Arena, using her powerful groundstrokes and precise shot placement to keep her opponent constantly on the defensive. Chwalinska, ranked 174th in the world and playing as a lucky loser, struggled to find any answers against the former Grand Slam champion's aggressive baseline game.

The second set proved slightly more competitive as Chwalinska finally held serve and began to settle into the match. However, Raducanu maintained her composure and superior quality to secure the crucial breaks when needed. The top seed's serve was particularly impressive throughout, winning 82% of points on her first serve and never facing a break point in the entire match. Her ability to dictate play from the baseline and finish points quickly at the net demonstrated the maturity and confidence she has developed since returning from injury struggles.

With this victory, Raducanu advances to her fourth career WTA semifinal and moves within one win of reaching just her second final since her historic US Open breakthrough in 2021. The British number one will face Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova in Friday's semifinal, with the winner advancing to Saturday's championship match. Raducanu has dropped just 12 games in three matches this week, suggesting she is finding her best form at the perfect time in the season.

The Transylvania Open represents a crucial opportunity for Raducanu to capture her second career title and build momentum for the remainder of the 2026 season. After battling through various injuries and inconsistent form over the past few years, the 24-year-old appears to be rediscovering the devastating combination of power and precision that made her a Grand Slam champion. Her dominant performance against Chwalinska sent a clear message to the rest of the draw that she is the player to beat in Cluj-Napoca this week.