EMMA RADUCANU survived an early scare to beat Polona Hercog 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 in her opening Transylvania Open clash.
The win marks the Brit's first since her US Open triumph last month in New York.
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- Rob Maul
Now she is just showing off.
Emma Raducanu is asked in English what she masked of the match.
And she responds in Romanian!
She has the crowd of about 100 or so in raptures.
They love t.
- Rob Maul
- Rob Maul
RADUCANU 4-6 7-5 6-1 HERCOG
She does it.
Emma Raducanu wins her first match at a WTA Tour event.
Incredible when you think she won the US Open only last month.
And she does it in style, nailing a 162km/h ace.
A topsy-turvy match this but great fighting spirit shown by the Kent star.
Queen’s popular ‘Don’t Stop me Now’ is being played on the tannoy and she must feel like that right now.
- Rob Maul
GAME, SET AND MATCH EMMA RADUCANU
- Rob Maul
A THIRD MATCH POINT FOR EMMA RADUCANU
- Rob Maul
RADUCANU 4-6 7-5 *5-1 HERCOG
Two match points there from Raducanu.
But both times she fails to capitalise.
Hercog, at the very least, manages to avoid the third-set bagel.
On Raducanu’s serve. Surely now is the time…
- Rob Maul
AND THE SECOND ONE GOES BEGGING FOR RADUCANU…BACK TO DEUCE
- Rob Maul
THE FIRST IS SAVED BY HERCOG
- Rob Maul
TWO MATCH POINTS FOR RADUCANU…
- Rob Maul
RADUCANU 4-6 7-5 5-0* HERCOG
Now she is just showing off.
Raducanu enjoys a clean service game, hits a 163km/h ace and is loving life right now.
Just one game and she has done it here in Romania.
Mentally, Hercog has given up.
- Rob Maul
RADUCANU 4-6 7-5 *4-0 HERCOG – BREAK OF SERVE
Another break of serve for Raducanu. And some luck as Hercog’s shot bounces off the net and wide.
That’s six games in a row now for Raducanu.
The momentum is clearly in her favour now.
She is only two games away from a maiden win at WTA Tour level.
- Rob Maul
- Rob Maul
RADUCANU 4-6 7-5 3-0* HERCOG
What a time to enjoy a routine service game.
You can see the confidence growing. Raducanu is in the ascendancy now
Hercog has to respond and quickly. Otherwise she will be going home soon.
- Rob Maul
RADUCANU 4-6 7-5 *2-0 HERCOG – BREAK OF SERVE
Hercog get a new racket from her back. Well, she has to try something.
Raducanu is on fire now, crying out when she moves into a 15-40 position.
Hercog then hits a shot into the net and Raducanu gets what could be a massive break of serve.
In New York, the longest match she played was the final, which lasted one hour 51 minutes.
So far we have done more two hours.
- Rob Maul
RADUCANU 4-6 7-5 1-0* HERCOG
After nearly two hours of action, both players headed off for a toilet break to regroup before the decisive set.
Raducanu came back the happier of the two, sucking on an energy capsule and eating half a banana.
This is the first time Raducanu has led the match since the seventh game of the first set.
Bizarrely, Hercog walked off court as Raducanu was charging down the drop shot.
Either she thought Raducanu wouldn't make it or just couldn't be bothered to race back. Weird behaviour
- Rob Maul
- Rob Maul
RADUCANU 4-6 7-5 HERCOG
And we are level.
Great stuff from Raducanu, who emerged from her chair early and was clearly up for this.
Despite being not happy with one line call – “Are you joking?” she asked the umpire – Raducanu seals the second set at the third attempt.
Poor at times from Hercog, who has this annoying habit of hitting double faults at the worst times.
- Rob Maul
RADUCANU HAS WON THE SECOND SET 7-5
- Rob Maul
A THIRD SET POINT NOW FOR RADUCANU…
- Rob Maul
IT'S LONG FROM RADUCANU…BACK TO DEUCE
- Rob Maul
ANOTHER SET POINT TO RADUCANU
- Rob Maul
ANOTHER SET POINT TO RADUCANU
- Rob Maul
IT'S LONG FROM RADUCANU…BACK TO DEUCE
- Rob Maul
SET POINT…RADUCANU
- Rob Maul
RADUCANU 4-6 6-5* HERCOG
We saw some of the best of Raducanu just now.
And some of the worst, too, in this 11th game of the second set.
Yet she saves the break point and then holds.
That showed good nerve from the 18-year-old.
Pressure now on Hercog.
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