Raducanu: "Meeting Halep has made me feel like a little girl, she has been my idol"

Iker Jiménez | 7 Feb 2026 | 18.49

Press conference of Raducanu after losing the Cluj-Napoca final. Source: Getty

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Emma Raducanu saw how victory slipped away from her in the final of the WTA 250 in Cluj-Napoca against local player Sorana Cirstea. The British player, who surprisingly only holds a single title in her career, the US Open 2021, arrived at this event after five years without reaching a final, a period marked by constant ups and downs and physical doubts.

The 2026 season didn't start well for her, falling in the second round of the Australian Open against Potapova. However, Raducanu has shown a good performance throughout the week in Romania, regaining sensations and confidence in her game, except for today's final where she again revealed physical issues. She hopes to take advantage of this momentum to get closer to her best version.

Defeat in the final against Cirstea

Today was obviously very tough. I think Sorana played a great match, and I've been dealing with some health issues. I just haven't felt well this week. Yesterday was a big battle, and today I felt quite tired and just need to try to rest as best as I can. But I also want to say that I couldn't do anything against Sorana today. She played incredibly, and she did so throughout the week. I can't praise her enough for how good she was and how kind she is as a person. It's great to have someone like her on the tour.

Experience in Romania

It was incredible. I felt at home the whole week. The support was great, even today when I was playing against Sorana. Of course, they were also cheering for her, but I expected that, and I think they were very fair. I really enjoyed it, and I believe Patrick did a great job. Besides, meeting Simona (Halep), who has been my idol since I was a kid, was amazing. Seeing her made me very nervous and shy, I felt like a child, but it was incredible to see her and play against her. She has inspired me and many other people.

First final in five years
Honestly, it's been a while since I've given one of these speeches. It's been four or five years since my last final, so it means a lot to me. I'm very happy that this happened here, in Cluj. I think my game has improved. I have progressed and been doing the right work in recent weeks, so I'm very happy with how my game is evolving. Today was difficult to make a fair assessment, but overall, I think it's moving in the right direction. I know there's still much to improve, but I'm happy to see some rewards for doing things right.

Romania, a second home for Raducanu

I also want to thank, without a doubt, the audience. They really made me feel at home this week, so thank you very much. I regret not being able to give my best today, but congratulations also to Sorana. You had an incredible week and I think you are playing fantastic tennis. I don't know if this is your last tournament in Cluj, but if it were me, I would leave on a high note. So, congratulations on everything.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Raducanu: "Conocer a Halep me ha hecho sentir como una niña pequeña, ha sido mi ídolo"