Emma Raducanu has admitted she’ll be taking the positives from her recent run at the Transylvania Open final, despite being crushed by Sorana Cirstea.
Cirstea won 6-0, 6-2 in Cluj while roared on by the Romanian crowd.
Raducanu was a shadow of her usual self on the court, with the 23-year-old lacking energy after a gruelling semi-final 24 hours previously.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Briton says she’ll be taking the positives from her run to the final – and also insisted she was happy with her performances this week, even if she came up short.
“I’m really happy to have made progress this week and made the final,” she said.
“It means a lot to me. It’s sad that today couldn’t go a bit better, but I think Sorana played incredibly from start to finish, and my energy was pretty low after my battle yesterday.
“I’m really happy with the steps I made this week, and I think it’s moving in the right direction.”
Emma Raducanu has admitted she’ll be taking the positives from her recent run at the Transylvania Open final, despite being crushed by Sorana Cirstea
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Raducanu’s run to the final came on the back of a disappointing Australian Open campaign.
She made just the second round of that tournament before being sent packing by Anastasia Potapova.
Raducanu added: “I didn’t really have much energy, and it was really difficult. Sorana played so well – I had no chance if I wasn’t 100 per cent, and even if I was 100 per cent, she was still playing incredible tennis. So all credit to her, she really deserves this one.”
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Following her early exit from the Australian Open, Raducanu split with coach Francisco Roig.
The pair had spent just six months together, with LTA coach Alexis Canter currently assisting the 2021 US Open champion.
Saturday’s final was Raducanu’s first since her sensational victory over Leylah Fernandez that year.
And the tennis star is happy with how her partnership with Canter has worked so far.
She continued: “He’s been helping me, hitting with me, and he’s been around me through various different stages, very different game styles, and trying to just bring me back to myself – my game identity – playing in the way I want to.
“I think this week was a good step in that direction. I’m really happy with how the week’s gone. I don’t know what I’ll be doing moving forward, but for now, this is working.
Emma Raducanu was completely outplayed by Sorana Cirstea in their Transylvania Open clash | GETTY
“I think it’s mainly about finding my style on the court, putting my imprint on it, and just letting it come from within.
“I would say that I’m happier, but there’s still a long way to go – definitely steps in the right direction. I can’t go from zero to 100 straight away.”
Raducanu is currently unsure whether she’ll play at next week’s Qatar Open in Doha.
As things stand, she is due to lock horns with Camila Osorio in the first round.
