Emma Raducanu began to fill in the gaps in her tennis education after she won a tough opening at the Transylvania Open on Tuesday night.
Before she charmed an almost empty stadium by speaking in Romanian, Polona Hercog defeated her 4-6 7-5 6-1. This was to advance to the second round, where Ana Bogdan will be facing her. After winning in two hours, 28 minutes, she said that it meant a lot to her to play in her Dad’s country.
This was an ideal contest and, astonishingly, her first match at this level on the tour.
Emma Raducanu won the first match since her victory at the Transylvania Open in the US Open
The British No. 1 beat stubborn Slovenian PolonaHercog (above), who took the first set at Cluj
Raducanu began promisingly before the largely deserted stands were forced upon this event due to new Romanian government regulations.
After winning a sixth breakpoint in the marathon second game, she won a 4-1 lead.
Hercog quickly showed why she was once ranked at 35 in the world. She was quick to eliminate errors and take advantage of her opponent’s lower level of confidence when she served.
Raducanu struggled in the beginning and lost five games in succession.
Raducanu’s left hand was also becoming impetuous and shaky, and she shanked one at 4-4 to seal her commitment to love.
The US Open champion was patient at the beginning of the second and forced three break points at 2-1 against the rangy Slovenian. As with Aliaksandra at Indian Wells, she was playing well over her ranking of 124. But that is to be expected as Raducanu is her new target.
The determined Hercog was unbeaten since Roland Garros, and there was nothing end-of season about her.
The 18-year old recovered in remarkable fashion to move into round 2 later this week
Raducanu was in serious trouble when she was presented with a breakpoint at 4-4, but she managed to escape with the help a ace. At 5-5, there was more trouble but she managed to survive with a low, skidding rearhand.
In the next game, she created a first set point but could not send her backhand return long. She was unable to handle Hercog’s angled drive, and a double fault gave her another one. Her opponent sent the ball long after she had committed the second fault.
Raducanu was able to overcome this and quickly move to 3-0 in the decider. She comfortably held on to the win to claim the match point on her fourth match point.