Sorana Cirstea overwhelmed Emma Raducanu in Cluj, the Romanian producing a clinical 6-0, 6-2 victory as home fans cheered a stirring late-career statement.
The final felt like two different tournaments stitched together: Cirstea moved with zip and confidence while Raducanu visibly wilted after a demanding week that left the British No 1 short of legs and breath.
Match Wrap: Cirstea’s Clean Win
“I never thought I would play for such a long time,”
Sorana Cirstea
Cirstea, playing in her announced final season, produced a ruthless performance and refused to cede momentum, closing out the match comfortably and adding another trophy to a long career of consistency.
The scoreline was emphatic: Cirstea won 6-0, 6-2, and she did it without dropping a set all week, converting chances and punishing any Raducanu hesitation with sharp returning and clever court positioning.
A medical timeout interrupted the start of the second set when the doctor came on to take Raducanu’s blood pressure at the first changeover, a visible moment that underlined how worn the Briton was by the final.
Fatigue was the through line. Raducanu had played an intense slate of matches in Cluj and the tournament marked the first time in years that she had completed five matches in a week, and the physical cost told on several long rallies.
Cirstea, aged 35, looked fresh and decisive; the home favourite had the crowd behind her and capitalised on shorter exchanges, turning pressure into points and carving space on a consistent service day.
The match finished after Raducanu double-faulted to hand Cirstea match point, delivering the final flourish of a one-sided final and leaving the Briton to consider recovery options before a busy calendar slot ahead.
Why Raducanu Looked Short Of Spark
Raducanu did not hide the toll after the match, admitting plainly “I feel pretty tired,” and acknowledging that consecutive physical challenges through the week had sapped her legs and clarity at key moments on court.
The British No 1 battled through a three-set semi the day before, and while she fought bravely in earlier rounds, that heavy workload left a freshness gap between her and Cirstea that the Romanian exploited brilliantly.
Cirstea’s path was lighter in comparison; the Romanian burned through her semi-final in 56 minutes, while Raducanu had spent significantly more time on court across the week, a contrast that manifested in court speed and late-match sharpness.
Tactically, Cirstea kept rallies compact and attacked second serves, while longer exchanges invariably went the Romanian’s way because Raducanu simply did not have the legs to sustain extended baseline duels at full pace.
Still, there were bright spots for Raducanu this week; she dug out tense wins, showed fight in tough moments and reminded everyone of the game that once took her to a major title, even if consistency over a long week remains a work in progress.
What Comes Next For Both Players
Raducanu is scheduled to play the first WTA 1000 of the season in Qatar, and she faces Colombia’s Camila Osorio in the first round, a quick turnaround that will test her fitness and recovery after an exhausting week in Cluj.
Cirstea will savour the moment in her home tournament and, despite saying she was slightly disappointed with some elements of her performance, the win will feed confidence in what she calls a long and fulfilling career.
The Romanian’s record is a reminder of longevity and consistency: a former world ranking high and many seasons inside the top tier, and now more silverware to underline a remarkable time on tour as she nears retirement.
On a practical level, Raducanu’s team will be focused on recovery, cardio and court time management ahead of Doha, because if she wants more trophies she will need to turn these long weeks into manageable bursts of peak performance.
For now, Cirstea celebrates a home triumph and Raducanu goes back to the drawing board; both players left the court with lessons worth noting, and the tennis world will watch how each responds next week.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
