Emma Raducanu’s first final in over four years came to a disappointing end at the Transylvania Open, but there are plenty of reasons to be positive for the British star.
Raducanu lost heavily to Sorana Cirstea in the final, where she won just two games against the home favourite.
The British number one looked out of sorts, and Raducanu later confirmed she was dealing with health issues in the WTA final.
Despite the comprehensive defeat, Raducanu should take inspiration from her first final appearance since 2021 and use the Transylvania Open as a blueprint of what to do for the rest of the season.
Emma Raducanu should focus on WTA 250 events in 2026 to break her barren run
Raducanu will next head to the Qatar Open, but she should not be focusing on Masters events at present time.
The Transylvania Open was proof that Raducanu was a cut above most of the players ranked outside of the top 50, and she will undeniably lift more trophies if she keeps playing 250 events.
The star should unapologetically focus on the lesser tournaments, particularly when it comes to grass court season.
Who should be Emma Raducanu’s next coach?
Raducanu should be playing the likes of Merida, Bogota, Rabat, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Chennai for the rest of the year.
The star’s ranking will not diminish either if she continues to perform the way she did in Romania, having earned 163 ranking points.
Raducanu is up to world number 25 in the WTA Tour rankings, having jumped five spaces after reaching the final.
Playing the bigger events is not currently working for Emma Raducanu
Raducanu, for the most part, has still stuck around the Masters events, but the lack of match practice is clearly affecting her.
The British number plays two or three games maximum when she plays the top events, and it’s not helping her develop her fitness.
The star looked sapped of energy from the very first minute of her final against Cirstea, which was her fifth match in as many days.
How likely is it that Emma Raducanu wins another Grand Slam, and why?
The star has not played that many matches since she reached the quarter-finals of the Miami Open in 2025.
Playing more matches, no matter the level of the opposition, will absolutely be the right move for Raducanu at this point in time.
WTA 250 events will not tank her ranking and they will allow the star to build confidence, momentum, and fitness later on in the season.
