Top News

Emma Raducanu fought back from 5-0 down in the opening set and claimed 11 consecutive games to defeat world No. 97 Kaja Juvan at the Transylvania Open. The win saw her book her place in the tournament's quarter-final.

In just her second match following her Australian Open elimination and parting ways with coach Francis Roig, Raducanu - the tournament's top seed in Cluj-Napoca - was forcedto stage a remarkable comeback to triumph 7-5, 6-1 and progress to the quarter-finals.

After the match, she addressed the crowd on court: "Thank you for the support. It really got me through some tricky moments in that first set," she said.

"I have to say Kaja was playing some great tennis, was putting me on the back foot straight away. I thought I was being aggressive, going for my shots, but I was missing and not executing.

• Emma Raducanu compared to Chelsea in fierce comment made by Wimbledon champion

• Andy Murray made Emma Raducanu stance clear after mum Judy's astonishing tweet

"At least I can say I was trying to play on my terms. That was the goal for me.

"I don't think I've ever come back from five-love down before so that's a first to add to the experience. Thank you for staying and waiting so long, I appreciate it, it means a lot.

"Now I've got to try and recover straight away. It's not much time but hopefully the schedule is kind to me and I can find some energy and hopefully I'll see you guys out there and you'll give me some energy."

The 2021 US Open winner was broken in each of her opening three service games of the first set. The treble break handed Slovenian Juvan a dominant advantage against the British No.1. However, Raducanu broke back and claimed five games on the bounce herself over the following 22 minutes to level matters.

Raducanu held her serve at 5-5 before breaking her opponent for a fourth time in the opening set, sealing her second set point to claim it 7-5 after one hour and two minutes. She began the second set by saving a break point in a marathon 10-minute game, then claimed the following three consecutively to maintain a spectacular 11-game winning streak.

At that stage, the world No. 30 had broken Juvan twice in the second set to establish a commanding 4-0 advantage after just 21 minutes. Juvan managed to break back when the Brit sent a forehand wide, only for Raducanu to hit back immediately with a seventh break of the encounter before closing out a well-earned, yet unforgettable, triumph.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page

The 23-year-old, who had former British player Alexis Canter watching from courtside in Cluj, is aiming to claim her first title since her maiden Grand Slam five years ago. She hasn't reached a single final since defeating Leylah Fernandez in the showpiece Flushing Meadows match.

Raducanu will meet Poland's Maja Chwalinska in the quarter-finals. The Pole, ranked 146th globally, secured a stunning 6-1, 1-6, 6-2 victory over Serbian seventh seed Olga Danilovic.

Should Raducanu overcome Chwalinska, she'll face the victor from the clash between Chinese fourth seed Wang Xiyu and Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova, who became an internet sensation during the Australian Open due to her tattoos. On the opposite half of the draw are third seed Sorana Cirstea and fifth seed Anastasia Potapova, who appear to be Raducanu's main threats for the championship.

The tournament victor claims £27,172 and 250 ranking points, with Raducanu having already secured 54 by making it to the quarter-finals. This marks Raducanu's first participation in this competition since 2021, when she was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Marta Kostyuk, managing to win only three games.