Emma Raducanu rediscovers 'super aggressive' style in convincing victory at Transylvania Open following split with Francisco Roig
By Leon Imber
Updated 02/02/2026 at 23:01 GMT
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A week on from announcing her split with coach Francisco Roig, Emma Raducanu showed encouraging signs with a convincing victory over Greet Minnen in the first round of the Transylvania Open. Raducanu, who said after her Australian Open second-round exit she wanted to rediscover her hard-hitting game, was pleased with her level of aggression from the start, saying she played a "great match".
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Emma Raducanu was pleased with her "super aggressive" performance as she recorded a convincing victory over Greet Minnen in her first match since splitting with coach Francisco Roig.
The British No. 1 prevailed 6-0 6-4 in the first round of the Transylvania Open - dominant throughout the encounter, but particularly in the opening set, as she limited world No. 125 Minnen to nine points in just shy of half an hour.
"I think I played a great match," Raducanu said. "From the beginning I was super aggressive. I think today was a great performance. I really wanted to put my game out on the court.
"I played a really tricky opponent in Greet, she starts the point really well so I knew I had to do the same and I’m just really pleased that I stayed with it."
Raducanu announced her split with Roig last week, saying the pair had come to the decision mutually, after her disappointing second-round exit at the Australian Open.
It was after that defeat to Anastasia Potapova that Raducanu expressed a desire to change her style, wishing to revert to "how I was playing when I was younger" - alluding to her stunning US Open triumph in 2021.
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"I think I'm going to take a few days, get back home, and try and just re-evaluate my game a bit," Raducanu said.
"I think I want to be playing a different way," she added. "And I think the misalignment with how I'm playing right now and how I want to be playing is something that I just want to work on."
The change of emphasis was evident in Raducanu's win over Minnen, as she displayed some fine ball-striking, and did not face a single break point.
Raducanu has yet to announce her next coach following the departure of Roig - who had spent 18 years as part of Rafael Nadal's team.
In January 2025, Nick Cavaday stepped down from his position as Raducanu's coach in order to "get back to full health".
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Later in the season, Raducanu temporarily worked with Mark Petchey, and enjoyed some positive results, including reaching the quarter-finals at Queen's, the third round of Wimbledon - where she was beaten by world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, and the semi-finals of the Citi Open in Washington DC.
Speaking on TNT Sports' coverage of the Australian Open after Raducanu's exit, Tim Henman suggested the 23-year-old needed to build up "physical resilience" in order to realise her potential as a "top 20" player.
"At the end of last year, she struggled with some injuries and had an issue with her foot," said Henman.
"Coming into the United Cup that I was a part of as captain, she was still building up her fitness and she played a match there.
"To get a couple of matches in Hobart and here, I never think her tennis level is in doubt.
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"It’s much more about the physical resilience and being able to compete week in, week out with the best players in the world, and to get fitter, stronger, faster, so she can compete against the biggest hitters.Â
"For me, if I could add one element to her game, it wouldn’t be technical or mental, it would be physical.
"When she has time off and has some practice she is in good shape, but it’s not just about a week or two weeks, it’s about six, seven months of continuous play to build up momentum on the match court.Â
"That’s hopefully what she can build up to because you reflect on her ranking at No. 29 and I still think she is scratching the surface. If she can build that consistency and continuity, then for sure she can be in the top 20 in the future."
Raducanu - the top seed at the Transylvania Open - faces Kaja Juvan in the second round on Wednesday.
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