‘That one today was huge’ – Emma Raducanu relieved to return to winning ways

Emma Raducanu said her comeback win over Polona Hercog at the Transylvania Open will be important for her confidence.

Raducanu became the first player to ever win a Grand Slam as a qualifier when she triumphed at the US Open last month, although things haven’t been smooth since.

She suffered a opening match exit at Indian Wells in her first tournament since Flushing Meadows, making her 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 success in Cluj all the more meaningful.

“All of the matches I’m playing, I’m just gaining in experience and I feel like that one today definitely counts a huge part to that,” she said.

“Because when you’re not playing very well, you know you can do better. I think that I learned to just try and dig in and I can turn matches around.”

On playing in Romania, the country from where her father is from, Raducanu said: “I feel extremely comfortable.

“I feel like I’m playing at home, everyone has been so friendly and welcome, I really want to stay here.

“When I was in trouble I was thinking: ‘I don’t want to leave here,’ and that helped me through it.”

Raducanu will now face Romanian Ana Bogdan on Thursday.