Emma Raducanu storms back after worrying start to see off world No 97
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Emma Raducanu battled back from a 5-0 first-set deficit in a strong display of grit and determination to win 11 successive games and reach the quarter-finals of the Transylvania Open.
It might not have been the most difficult match on paper, with Raducanu ranked 67 places higher than her opponent, Kaja Juvan, but her tumultuous last few months were evident as she slipped to an alarming deficit.
It was not dissimilar to the first round of the Australian Open, when she was bullied around the court by Mananchaya Sawangkaew, a 5ft 4in player from Thailand who had never played at major level before.
But just as she had in Melbourne, Raducanu overcame the tentativeness that she had started with and found control. She pushed on to claim a 7-5, 6-1 win.
Raducanu announced a split with coach Francis Roig last week, just six months into a year-long deal, with her camp insisting it was a mutual decision and that “their highly respected relationship” ended on “good terms”. Supported only by hitting partner Alexis Canter, and just as she did in the first round, Raducanu played her own style.
“I have to say Kaja was playing some great tennis, putting me on the back foot straight away and I thought I was being aggressive and going for my shots, but I was missing and not executing,” Raducanu said in her on-court interview.
“But at least I could say that I was trying to play on my terms, so that was the goal for me.
“I don’t think I’ve ever come back from 5-0 down before so that’s a first to add to the experience, but thank you for staying and waiting for so long, it means a lot, I really appreciate it.”
Raducanu insisted after her Australian Open exit last month that she wanted to “work on playing in a way more similar to how I was playing when I was younger”, but it was Juvan who started the match with freedom. She raced into a 5-0 lead, but as she served for the set, she faltered.
It was a much bigger deficit than the 1-3 and 15-40 Raducanu had in the first round of the Australian Open before finding a succession of winners. As Juvan first attempted to serve out for the first set, Raducanu refused to back down, and instead reeled off an impressive 11 games in a row.
Juvan, who was forced to miss most of 2024 with injury, and also took time away from the game in 2022 after the death of her father Robert, has been steadily climbing the rankings and was a much sterner test than Greet Minnen in the opening round.
Once Raducanu had taken the first set, the match was almost a foregone conclusion. Juvan faded, having lost that spark she started with, making 17 unforced errors and winning just 13 points in the second set.
Raducanu has two wins under the watchful eye of Canter, albeit in a W250 tournament in Romania where she has had the backing of the crowd. It remains to be seen who she will appoint as coach her on a more permanent basis, having worked at the National Tennis Centre with doubles coach Louis Cayer in the brief interim between Melbourne and Cluj.
But there may yet be a more pressing concern, as Raducanu’s movement appeared hampered at times during the match. At one point she tentatively stretched her right leg. Given the time she spent unable to move around the court and hitting statically in the off-season, it is hoped that it will not affect her on Thursday.
Earlier, Katie Boulter booked her place in the quarter-finals of the Ostrava Open with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Viktorija Golubic. In Abu Dhabi, Sonay Kartal benefitted from top seed Belinda Bencic’s withdrawal to beat lucky loser Renata Zarazua 6-0, 6-3 and will play Sara Bejlek in the next round.
Match point
Coming up clutch⚡️@EmmaRaducanu books her spot in the quarterfinals defeating Juvan in straight sets!#TO26pic.twitter.com/IFtGLFlESJ
— wta (@WTA) February 4, 2026
Raducanu wins 7-5, 6-1!
Raducanu, serving for the match, loses the first point as a forehand sails wide. Juvan then nets a backhand on the next point as the scoreboard moves to 15-15. A good return from the Slovenian jams up Raducanu on the baseline as she nets a forehand. A well-timed forehand drive-volley gets the Briton to 30-30.
A T-serve brings up match point at 40-30… and just like that, Raducanu gets it done in straight sets!
Brilliant comeback from the top seed!
Raducanu 7-5, 5-1 Juvan*
Raducanu nets a forehand return before hanging with Juvan in the next point. The Briton gets to 15-30 but Juvan levels up with a good first delivery that draws an error from Raducanu. The Briton then comes up with a forehand cross-court winner to bring up break point and she takes it at the first time of asking.
Raducanu* 7-5, 4-1 Juvan
Raducanu wins the opening point after drawing an error from Juvan. The Slovenian then puts away a forehand volley to level things up at 15-15 and then gets to 15-30 as Raducanu nets a forehand following an extended rally.
A slice from the Briton lands in the tramlines to give Juvan two break points. Raducanu saves the first but is unable to save the second as Juvan gets on the board in this second set.
The run of games for Raducanu ends at 11.
Raducanu 7-5, 4-0 Juvan*
Raducanu, playing with confidence and swagger, races 0-40 ahead before seeing a return sail wide. On her second break point, Raducanu breaks to move within two games of the last eight.
Extreme momentum swing
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We’re only early in the second set and I feel like I’ve watched two completely different matches.
Raducanu started off tentative and was almost being picked off with ease, but she looks a completely different player now.
Momentum swings in tennis can be stark but this is something else.
Raducanu* 7-5, 3-0 Juvan
Looking to consolidate and continue her ruthless streak, Raducanu wins the opening point before going 30-0 ahead following a brilliant serve out wide to open up the court for an easy drive-forehand winner. The Briton holds to love.
Ten games in a row now!
Raducanu 7-5, 2-0 Juvan*
Juvan falls 0-30 behind before Raducanu brings up break point with a delicate backhand dropshot.
The Briton breaks at the first time of asking!
Rollercoaster of a first set
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What a rollercoaster of a first set. Juvan seemed to completely fall apart as Raducanu started coming back into that.
It’ll be really interesting to see if she can regroup and have another go at her here.
Second set: Raducanu* 7-5, 1-0 Juvan
Juvan wins the opening two points on Raducanu’s serve before the Briton gets on the board at 15-30 and then draws level at 30-30. An ace out wide brings up game point for the Briton but she then nets a backhand. Deuce. Raducanu nets a backhand to give Juvan break point but saves it after seeing a forehand sail long from Juvan.
Advantage Raducanu following a good first serve and the Briton holds. Eight games in a row now!
Raducanu takes the first 7-5!
Juvan, serving from behind for the first time in this contest, loses the opening two points before getting back to 30-30. The Slovenian then nets a forehand to give Raducanu set point. A deep forehand sees Raducanu stretching to get the ball back in play as the score moves to deuce, but Raducanu seizes on a short ball to bring up another set point and the Briton takes it.
Unreal fightback from the top seed!
Emma Raducanu wins SEVEN STRAIGHT GAMES to win the opening set 7-5 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HxfhvnxXfQ
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) February 4, 2026
Raducanu* 6-5 Juvan
Raducanu wins the first point before Juvan comes up with a nice forehand down the line to get to 15-15.
Juvan then nets a forehand as Raducanu moves 30-15 ahead. The Briton then goes wide with a forehand but throws down an ace down the T in the next point to bring up game point. Juvan gets to deuce after seeing her attacking intent pay off.
A tricky overhead is played into the tramlines by Raducanu to give Juvan advantage, but the Slovenian is unable to take seal the game as she nets a regulation forehand and then goes long on the same wing in the next point. Advantage Raducanu.
The Briton holds and secures her sixth game in a row to move ahead in the set.
Raducanu 5-5 Juvan*
From 5-0 down, Raducanu has somehow clawed her way back as she closes out the game to 15 to break Juvan again.
All level now in this first set!
Raducanu has managed to get herself back in this match
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Somehow, inexplicably, Raducanu has managed to get herself back into this first-set contest.
She looked down and out at 5-0 down and questions were being raised about her fitness as she appeared to move gingerly while stretching out a leg.
But whatever was affecting her, seems to be now disrupting Juvan’s tennis and she has now lost four games in a row.
Raducanu* 4-5 Juvan
After exchanging the first couple of points, Raducanu sneaks 30-15 ahead before seeing Juvan go long with a return.
Raducanu then pushes a forehand wide, as the score moves to 40-30, but stays in the next point and eventually draws another error from Juvan. Good hold from the Briton.
Raducanu 3-5 Juvan*
Juvan, serving for the set for a second time, gets on the board first before double-faulting. Another double-fault sees Raducanu move 15-30 ahead.
Raducanu, on her first break point, closes out the game with a forehand return winner.
Raducanu* 2-5 Juvan
Raducanu, looking more like she did in her first-round match, races to a 40-0 lead before seeing Juvan crush a forehand return for a clean winner.
A double-fault from the Briton sees the score move to 40-30 but Raducanu closes out the game to further extend this first set.
Raducanu 1-5 Juvan*
From nowhere, Raducanu races to a 0-40 lead before Juvan stops the rot at 15-40.
Raducanu, with a good look on a short ball, sprays a forehand wide before getting on the board off a forehand winner cross-court.
Raducanu seems surprised by Juvan’s level
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Raducanu has to try and get a foothold in this match from somewhere here.
She seems to be going for the lines and not finding them and almost seems surprised by what Juvan is able to produce on the other side of the net.
Raducanu* 0-5 Juvan
Juvan races to a 0-30 lead after a couple of errors from Raducanu. Raducanu eventually draws level at 30-30 before a backhand error from Juvan brings up game point for the Briton. Raducanu is unable to close out the game as Juvan gets to deuce and then advantage after taking advantage of a mid-court forehand.
Juvan pushes a backhand return long as the score moves back to deuce. Raducanu slices a backhand into the net. Break point, Juvan. And the Slovenian takes it.
Raducanu 0-4 Juvan*
A forehand return winner gets Raducanu on the board first. Another strong return edges the Briton 15-30 ahead. Raducanu then gets two looks at a break point. Juvan is able to save the first with a forehand winner and the second as Raducanu goes long with a forehand return.
Raducanu then nets a backhand to give Juvan advantage and the Slovenian successfully holds.
Raducanu* 0-3 Juvan
Raducanu starts the game with a double fault before seeing an aggressive approach pay off in the next point to get to 15-15. A good Juvan return sees Raducanu go long with a forehand before the Slovenian hits a forehand winner down the line as Juvan breaks again.
Raducanu 0-2 Juvan*
Juvan, looking to consolidate the break, nets a forehand to fall 0-15 behind before throwing down a nice serve out wide to draw level at 15-15. Raducanu then nets a forehand to fall 30-15 behind. A return sails long from the Briton as Juvan gets to 40-15 and holds to 15 to consolidate.
First set: Emma Raducanu* 0-1 Kaja Juvan
Kaja Juvan registers the first point with a forehand passing shot. Emma Raducanu then sees a forehand go long as she falls 0-30 behind. The top seed then gets the better of the Slovenian in an extended baseline exchange to get on the board at 30-15 before a strong first serve gets the Briton to 30-30.
Juvan gets to 30-40 after some attacking tennis but Raducanu’s able to save break point after a good second serve is returned into the net. Raducanu saves a second break point after staying with Juvan during an extended rally.
Juvan, on her third break point, takes the game as Raducanu goes wide with a backhand.
Coin toss
Emma Raducanu won the toss and has elected to serve.
British success elsewhere
Earlier today Katie Boulter booked her place in the quarter-finals of the Ostrava Open with a confident 6-2, 6-2 victory over Viktorija Golubic. Boulter can look forward to a last-eight meeting with Linda Fruhvirtova next.
Straight from Boulter's bag of tricks 🪄@katiecboulter went on to defeat No.5 seed Golubic 6-2, 6-2! #OstravaOpenpic.twitter.com/OBKg27IXtj
— wta (@WTA) February 4, 2026
Sonay Kartal also took advantage of top seed Belinda Bencic’s withdrawal in Abu Dhabi and beat the Swiss’ replacement in the draw, lucky loser Renata Zarazua 6-3, 6-0. Kartal will play Sara Bejlek next.
First-time meeting
Good afternoon and welcome to coverage of Emma Raducanu versus Kaja Juvan in the second round of the Transylvania Open.
Raducanu, who split with coach Francisco Roig last month, is in Cluj with hitting partner Alexis Canter and looks to be in a good place with her game if her first-round performance against Greet Minnen is anything to go by. The top seed only lost nine points in the first set before eventually closing out the match 6-0, 6-4 in 70 minutes.
Speaking afterwards, Raducanu said: “I think I played a great match. From the beginning I was super aggressive. I played a really tricky opponent in Greet, she starts the point really well so I knew I had to do the same and I’m just really pleased that I stayed with it.”
Whether Raducanu adopts the same aggressive approach to her second-round match remains to be seen, but her opponent today will pose a different challenge.
Juvan, currently 97th in the world rankings, has been ranked as high as 58 in the world. Before this week, the 25-year-old Slovenian was 0-2 on the season. Faced with the tough task of Elena Rybakina in the first round of the Australian Open a fortnight ago, Juvan went down to the eventual champion in straight sets but did manage to register seven games.
In her first-round match two days ago, Juvan saw off Elena Ruxandra Bertea in straight sets – 6-3, 6-4.
This is a first-time meeting between the pair. The winner will play Maja Chwalinska in the quarter-finals.
