British number one Emma Raducanu wants to take the positives from her week at the Transylvania Open, as she made her first final since winning the 2021 US Open.

Raducanu won four straight matches as the top seed but ran out of steam in the showpiece match as she lost 6-0 6-3 to home favourite Sorana Cirstea.

Indeed, Cirstea became the first Romanian player to win the Transylvania Open, marking her farewell tour with a special victory.

But despite the disappointment of not winning the second title of her career, Raducanu, who moved up to 25 in the world rankings, believes that she is on the right trajectory as she looks ahead to a busy part of the season.

"I'm really happy to have made progress this week and made the final," Raducanu told Sky Sports. 

"It means a lot to me. It's sad that today couldn't go a bit better, but I think Sorana played incredibly from start to finish.

"I'm really happy with the steps I made this week, and I think it's moving in the right direction."

It’s been an incredible joy to have you in Cluj, @EmmaRaducanu!

Congratulations on your second career final.

We can’t wait to see you again at the Transylvania Open: this is home for you. #TO2026 ‍ pic.twitter.com/QV4sJGEgfD

— Transylvania Open (@TransylvaniaOpn) February 7, 2026

Raducanu, who lost in the second round of the Australian Open last month to Anastasia Potapova, admitted she had been struggling with an infection and was also feeling the effects from her semi-final epic with Oleksandra Oliynykova.

She added: "My energy was pretty low after my battle yesterday and it was really difficult."

Raducanu has been working with LTA coach Alexis Canter in Cluj after splitting with Francis Roig, and she is grateful for the extra freedom she has been given when performing on the court.

"He's been helping me, hitting with me, and he's been around me through various different stages, very different game styles, and trying to just bring me back to myself - my game identity - playing in the way I want to," Raducanu said.

"I think this week was a good step in that direction. I'm really happy with how the week's gone. I don't know what I'll be doing moving forward, but for now, this is working.

"I think it's mainly about finding my style on the court, putting my imprint on it, and just letting it come from within."