Emma Raducanu & Katie Boulter make history in reaching WTA finals in Transylvania & Ostrava
• 3 minute read
Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter have made history in becoming the first British players to reach WTA singles finals in the same week.
British No.1 Raducanu came through a tough test against Oleksandra Oliynykova in the semi-finals of the Transylvania Open, while Boulter thrashed American Katie Volynets to make the final of the Ostrava Open.
Raducanu broke the Ukrainian world No.91 six times to win 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 and reach her first WTA final since her US Open title run in 2021.
Meanwhile, Boulter continued her impressive run in Czechia with a 6-1, 6-3 victory in an hour and 23 minutes. The former world No.23 will be aiming for her fourth career WTA title.
Raducanu will play home-favourite Sorana Cirstea in her final, with Boulter set to face Tamara Korpatsch of Germany. Both finals are set to take place on Saturday 7 February.
Raducanu won her only previous match against Cirstea at Wimbledon in 2021, while Boulter and Korpatsch have never played each other.
Raducanu overcomes Oliynykova test
Raducanu was made to fight in her fifth WTA semi-final against a tricky opponent in Oliynykova - coming through after two hours and 49 minutes.
"What an incredible match," said Raducanu. All props to my opponent today, she played incredible. She makes it so tricky to put any ball past her.
"I’m most proud of how I competed, how I came back in the third set, how I managed the match."
In a tight opener, the British No.1 missed her first opportunity to serve for the set at 5-4, but made the most of her chance second time around. After breaking for 6-5, Raducanu received treatment on her arm before closing out the set in an hour and 13 minutes.
Raducanu led the Ukrainian by a break twice in the second set, but couldn’t make the advantage count competing against heavy slice and loopy top spin groundstrokes from Oliynykova.
The Brit lost five games in a row before then going behind a break in the deciding third set as well.
From 2-1 down, something seemed to click for the world No.30 and suddenly she seemed to find the answers to the issues being posed by her opponent.
Raducanu hit a thunderous forehand return to clinch back-to-back breaks to give herself the chance to serve for the match. The Briton saved two break points before a delicate drop shot set up her third and final match point.
Boulter dominant in semi-final win
Boulter is through to her first final since Hong Kong in 2024, as the Brit looks set to catapult back inside the top 100 next week.
"I’m really pleased with today," she said. "I feel like she really stepped up in the second and I tried to match as best I could and keep trusting myself and keep going for it no matter what. It paid off in the end.
"It’s Micky’s (coach Michael Joyce) birthday week so I’m going to try and get him a present tomorrow, which is a trophy. I’m going to put everything on the line. I’m really pleased with today and looking forward to tomorrow."
Boulter was on it from the word go – rifling a backhand cross court winner to break the American in the first game of the match.
The British star kept the pressure on Volynets throughout the first set and had break points on all four of the American’s service games in the opener – converting twice more to take the first set in 40 minutes.
There were positive signs for Volynets early in the second, breaking to love in the first game of the set, but her serve continued to be an issue.
Boulter responded instantly to get back on level terms and took the sting out of her opponent’s potential comeback.
The British star has been in fine form this week – seeing off Lucie Havlickova, fifth seed Viktorija Golubic and Linda Fruhvirtova, in the previous rounds – and her confidence showed in the pressure moments.
She broke again for a 5-3 lead and then saw off three break points of her own to seal her spot in Saturday’s final.
Elsewhere, British doubles No.1 Olivia Nicholls is also through to the WTA 500 Abu Dhabi final with partner Tereza Mihalikova.
Fourth seeds Nicholls and Mihalikova beat Alexandra Eala and Janice Tjen 6-4, 6-2 to reach the final.
The British, Slovakian team also made the semis last year but will go in search of their second WTA title together this weekend.
How to watch Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter in the Transylvania Open and Ostrava Open finals
You can watch all the action from the Transylvania Open and Ostrava Open finals live exclusively on Sky Sports Tennis and NOW TV.
