Veteran Slovenian Polona Hercog gave young superstar Emma Raducanu all she could handle during the Round of 32 in the Transylvania Open.
Polona began in an empathic fashion, claiming the first set 6-4 as Emma had to then win two in a row for advancing. The next set saw an epic back-and-forth battle with Raducanu coming on top 7-5. With her mojo back, Emma finished the game 6-1, invoking the type of set that became routine for her in the US Open title run.
Raducanu and Hercog drew level in terms of service points with 59 points each. However, Briton Emma passed Polona in receiving points, claiming a 45-30 advantage in that sphere. Meanwhile, Emma won four out of 17 breakpoints while Hercog won two out of five. This is Emma’s first win since her US Open triumph over Leylah Fernandez and she has bounced back after a first-round exit from the Indian Wells Open by the hands of Aliaksandra Sasnovich.