Emma Raducanu beats Greet Minnen in straight sets at Transylvania Open
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Emma Raducanu put her recent coaching split and early Australian Open exit behind her to ease into the second round at the Transylvania Open in Cluj.
Whatever the term for the tennis equivalent of new-manager bounce, Raducanu exemplified it, with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Greet Minnen.
She took the first set in just over 25 minutes, after flying out of the blocks, dropping just nine points in the opening set to claim a bagel advantage, showing an aggressive form of tennis and a strong serve.
Emma Raducanu soars through the first set, 6-0💪@EmmaRaducanu | #ClujNapocapic.twitter.com/ryNs6t48Qn
— wta (@WTA) February 2, 2026
Last week Raducanu announced she had split with coach Francis Roig after just six months, a handful of days after she was knocked out of the Australian Open in the second round by Anastasia Potapova, the world No 59.
Raducanu’s camp insisted that the agreement to go their separate ways was a mutual decision and that “their highly respected relationship” ended on “good terms”, but it left her in accompanied only by hitting partner Alexis Canter.
In her press conference following the Australian Open exit, Raducanu insisted that she wanted to play a different way and emulate the aggressive style that brought her US Open success in 2021.
In contrast to Roig’s more cautious approach and desire to develop a more Spanish-style forehand, Raducanu did not hold back in Cluj, going for the lines and hitting much flatter than she had done Down Under on both sides, including an astonishing inside-out backhand winner early in the second set.
Emma Raducanu wins her first match since splitting from her coach at the Transylvania Open 🎾 pic.twitter.com/92DYgv8D29
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) February 2, 2026
The match point
Emma Raducanu wins her first match since splitting from her coach at the Transylvania Open 🎾 pic.twitter.com/92DYgv8D29
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) February 2, 2026
Slovenian Juvan up next for Raducanu
Kaja Juvan will be Raducanu’s second-round opponent.
Raducanu ‘very happy’ with her display
“Very happy. I think I played a great match, was super aggressive from the first ball. The crowd were also great.”
Raducanu wins 6-0, 6-4
Big first serve sets the tone, as Raducanu goes 15-0 ahead. Minnen does well to hang with the Briton before netting a backhand to fall 30-0 behind. A Raducanu error moves the score to 30-15. Some crafty court play from Minnen sees the Belgian get to 30-30 after lobbing the Briton. A gutsy forehand approach pays off Raducanu as she puts a volley for a clean winner and sets up a match point and the Briton closes out.
Game, set and match!
Raducanu 6-0, 5-4 Minnen*
Minnen, serving to stay in the match, has no answer for Raducanu’s aggressive return. A nice forehand winner down the line gets the Belgian to 15-15. Raducanu, going big from the back, sees a forehand go long. Minnen wins the next point after some aggressive tennis of her own and she holds to extend the set.
Raducanu* 6-0, 5-3 Minnen
A strong serve out wide sees Raducanu get on the board first before the score moves to 15-15 as the Briton goes wide with a forehand. A clever spot-serve sets up the point nicely for Raducanu who goes 30-15 ahead. Minnen then sees a return fly long which brings up two game points for Raducanu and the Briton holds.
Raducanu 6-0, 4-3 Minnen*
Minnen’s turn to race ahead 40-0 as the Belgian sees Raducanu spray a few groundstrokes. An ace closes out the game for Minnen.
Raducanu* 6-0, 4-2 Minnen
Much like the first set, Raducanu races to a 40-0 lead before eventually closing out the game to love. The Briton is in cruise control in Cluj.
Raducanu aggressive on both wings
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Raducanu has continued to play an aggressive form of tennis, going for the lines on both the forehand and backhand side.
It might not always come off, but it should be enough against the world No 125.
Raducanu 6-0, 3-2 Minnen*
Minnen falls 0-30 behind, as Raducanu ramps up the pressure on the Belgian’s serve. Minnen gets the score to 30-30 after drawing a couple errors from Raducanu before throwing down an ace to move 40-30 ahead. A much-needed hold for the Belgian who stays in touch in this second set.
Raducanu* 6-0, 3-1 Minnen
Raducanu races to a 30-0 lead after couple of stunning forehand winners. The Briton is then forced to be patient as Minnen makes a few rally balls before taking a 40-0 lead. But Raducanu emphatically holds to love as she closes out the game with a volley winner.
Raducanu 6-0, 2-1 Minnen*
After falling 15-0 behind, Raducanu levels at 15-15 with a backhand drive-volley winner. Minnen then draws an error from the Briton on the forehand wing to move 30-15 ahead but then nets a backhand after opening up the court. More aggressive play from Raducanu sees Minnen scrambling to retrieve as Raducanu gets to deuce.
A superb forehand winner return brings up break point for Raducanu. Minnen saves it with a nice serve-plus-one play. Raducanu finds another forehand winner to bring up another break point and the Briton breaks!
Raducanu* 6-0, 1-1 Minnen
After exchanging the first couple of points, Minnen moves to 15-30 ahead after Raducanu nets a backhand. An ace down the T moves the score to 30-30, and then 40-30 after an ace out wide. Raducanu holds to 30 to draw level in set two.
Second set: Raducanu 6-0, 0-1 Minnen*
Minnen, looking refreshed, wins the opening point before Raducanu levels to make it 15-15. The Belgian then finds a winner from the baseline and then draws an error from Raducanu as the score moves to 40-15. Raducanu crushes a backhand for a clean winner but Minnen wins the next point and finally gets on the board after 31 minutes.
Bathroom break for Minnen
After a bruising first set, Minnen has gone for a bathroom break.
Raducanu wins the first set 6-0
Some confident first serves and more dominant baseline hitting sees Raducanu race to a 40-0 lead. Minnen gets on the board at 40-15 as Raducanu goes long with a forehand. Minnen saves a second set point as Raducanu goes wide with a forehand but Raducanu is able to hold and close out the set.
The Briton only lost nine points in the opening set.
Emma Raducanu soars through the first set, 6-0💪@EmmaRaducanu | #ClujNapocapic.twitter.com/ryNs6t48Qn
— wta (@WTA) February 2, 2026
New-manager bounce
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I wonder what the tennis equivalent of new-manager bounce is? Whatever the term, I think it is what we are watching here from Emma Raducanu. She is going for her shots with freedom and to great effect.
Raducanu 5-0 Minnen*
Minnen concedes the opening point on serve before getting on the board at 15-15. Raducanu wins the next point after some more aggressive hitting and sees Minnen throw down another double fault to get a look at two break points. Minnen saves the first with a backhand winner down the line but Raducanu lasers one of her own down the line to secure her third break.
Raducanu* 4-0 Minnen
Raducanu races to a 30-0 lead after finding two good first serves. A good serve to the body moves the score to 40-0. The Briton holds to love. The Briton is racing through her service games.
Raducanu 3-0 Minnen*
Clean winner off a return sees Raducanu move 0-15 ahead. Minnen then falls 0-30 behind as Raducanu continues to dominate from the baseline. A double-fault from Minnen brings up three break points for Raducanu. At the first time of asking, Raducanu takes it. Superb start from the top seed.
Raducanu* 2-0 Minnen
Raducanu goes up 15-0 with a volley winner, and then 30-0 with a clean forehand groundstroke up the line. Another forehand winner gets the Briton to 40-0. Raducanu holds to love as Minnen’s return sails wide. Good love-hold from Raducanu.
First set: Emma Raducanu 1-0 Greet Minnen*
Raducanu races to a 0-30 lead before Minnen gets on the board as Raducanu goes long from the baseline. A nice iniside-out forehand winner gets the Belgian to 30-30 and then 40-30 after Raducanu nets a forehand. Some big hitting from Raducanu draws a forehand error from Minnen as the score moves to deuce.
Ace out wide brings up game point for Minnen. Raducanu, on the run, finds the court with a lovely backhand passing shot and then draws another error from Minnen to bring up her first break point. Minnen saves it with a forehand winner. Some more aggressive hitting sees Raducanu come up with another winner, this time on the backhand wing. The Briton breaks!
Alexis Canter in Raducanu’s coaching corner
Alexis Canter is in Raducanu’s coaching corner in Cluj. Canter was with Raducanu for the American hard-court swing last year.
Coin toss
The players are on court and are warming up. Greet Minnen won the toss and has elected to serve.
Kartal through in Abu Dhabi
Sonay Kartal is competing in the WTA 500 in Abu Dhabi. The Briton, who came through qualifying, beat Cristina Bucșa 6-3, 7-6 in the first round and can look forward to a meeting with top seed Belinda Bencic next.
Top seed in Cluj
Good afternoon and welcome to coverage of Emma Raducanu versus Greet Minnen in the first round of the Transylvania Open.
The Briton is the top seed in the 32-player field and will be looking to put together some matches following her second-round exit at the Australian Open last time out.
Since her 7-6, 6-2 defeat to Anastasia Potapova, who is the fifth seed in Cluj, Raducanu has split with coach Francisco Roig after just six months. The 2021 US Open champion announced the news on Instagram last week.
“Francis, thank you for our time together,” she wrote. “You have been more than a coach to me and I will cherish the many good times we spent together on and off the court. While we have come to the conclusion together that we ought not to move forward, please know that I am very grateful for all you have taught me and fond of our time shared.”
All eyes will be on Raducanu’s coaching box in Romania where she takes on Minnen from Belgium. The Briton leads the head-to-head 1-0 after their first meeting in 2018 went Raducanu’s way in straight sets – 7-6, 6-2.
