Emma Raducanu is through to her first showpiece match since the 2021 US Open, after overcoming Oleksandra Oliynykova to reach the Transylvania Open final.

Raducanu had to hold her nerve as the Ukrainian forced a decider, but the number one seed eventually triumphed 7-5 3-6 6-3 in two hours and 49 minutes.

There was little to split the pair in the first set before they traded breaks in the closing stages. Raducanu then missed her first set point, but after regaining the advantage at 6-5, she served it out to love.

The Brit then raced into a 3-1 lead in the second after both players failed to hold serve across the first three games, but Oliynykova then swept the final five to take it to a third set.

Raducanu endured another minor wobble at that point, falling 2-1 behind, before a four-game winning streak put her back in control.

Though she failed to break Oliynykova's serve again, wasting two match points in the process, she got it done on her third try.

All smiles from @EmmaRaducanu!

Raducanu defeats Oliynykova in a thrilling three set battle and books her ticket into the final. #TransylvaniaOpen pic.twitter.com/vvYQpQiEmr

— wta (@WTA) February 6, 2026

"It's a really emotional feeling," Raducanu said of making a long-awaited final return.

"I haven't been in the final for five years now, so it's an amazing achievement.

"It's all coming together. So, yeah, I'm just really proud. My only focus now is to try and recover from that marathon."

She will face home favourite Sorana Cirstea for the title after the 35-year-old brushed aside Daria Snigur 6-0 6-3 in her semi-final.

Elsewhere at the Abu Dhabi Open, Clara Tauson suffered a shock semi-final exit after being beaten in three sets by Sara Bejlek.

The Czech held on to record a 7-5 3-6 7-5 victory on Friday, and her final opponent will be Ekaterina Alexandrova, who downed high-flying Hailey Baptiste 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.

Data Debrief: Raducanu's wait is over

Not only is this Raducanu's first final since her shock 2021 US Open victory, it is just the second showpiece of her career, with both coming on hard courts.

Her win over Oliynykova also snapped a six-match losing streak in deciding sets for Raducanu, with this her first three-set win since Eastbourne last year (first round v Ann Li).