Emma Raducanu: British teenager reflects on ‘huge’ opening win at the Transylvanian Open | Tennis News

Emma Raducanu: British teenager reflects on ‘huge’ opening win at the Transylvanian Open | Tennis News

US Open champion Emma Raducanu is finally on the board on the WTA Tour after three previous first-round defeats; the teenager from Bromley in Kent will next take on home favourite Ana Bogdan in the last 16 of the Transylvania Open on Thursday

Last Updated: 27/10/21 1:35pm

Emma Raducanu recorded her first win on the WTA Tour

Emma Raducanu recorded her first win on the WTA Tour

Emma Raducanu said tasting victory on the WTA Tour for the first time since her stunning US Open success “means a lot” to her.

Playing in just her second match since her fairy-tale victory as a qualifier at the US Open, the 18-year-old has finally been able to end the anomaly of being a Grand Slam champion without a win on the WTA Tour.

In just Raducanu’s fourth tournament at this level and after three previous first-round defeats she finally got on the board, beating Polona Hercog behind closed doors at the Transylvanian Open in Cluj.

She said: “It feels like a huge win, it is my first WTA Tour win which makes me very happy.

“It was difficult for me but I feel to win my first WTA match does mean a lot because I was on a losing streak, so I got my first one. I am really pleased to have come through that today.

“It definitely means a lot, it’s my first win, I knew that in my head so I was battling really hard to get on the board. To play in Romania, I had amazing support so they definitely helped me.

“It is a shame there aren’t fans here but I hope they were watching and I just wanted to do them proud.”

Raducanu, who had previously struggled to find anywhere near the level she showed in New York, allowed her talent to shine through in the deciding

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Ronald Koeman sacked by Barcelona | Football News

Ronald Koeman sacked by Barcelona | Football News

Ronald Koeman has been sacked as head coach of Barcelona after 14 months in charge.

After weeks of speculation, Koeman’s final game was the 1-0 defeat by Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Wednesday night, their fourth defeat in six games in all competitions.

A brief statement was released on the club’s website confirming president Joan Laporta had relieved the Dutchman of his duties as first-team coach.

It added: “Ronald Koeman will say goodbye to the squad on Thursday at the Ciutat Esportiva.

“FC Barcelona wishes to thank him for his service to the club and wishes him all the best in his professional career.”

Pressure had been building on the Dutchman since a 3-0 defeat at Benfica in late September, which made this season the club’s worst-ever start to a Champions League campaign.

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The Early Kick-Off panel believe Barcelona’s decision to sack Ronald Koeman as head coach is ‘no massive surprise’

They succumbed to a 2-0 away loss to Atletico Madrid in La Liga on October 2, with former forward Luis Suarez scoring the second goal at the Metropolitano Stadium, and they trail league frontrunners Real Madrid by six points in the table.

Their 2-1 loss to Real Madrid at the Nou Camp on October 24 was Koeman’s third El Clasico defeat in a row, and after the final whistle, the Barcelona boss was targeted by a crowd of fans who attacked his car as he tried to drive away from the stadium.

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Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman’s car was mobbed by supporters after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico at the Nou Camp

After the defeat on Wednesday, Koeman said: “It [Barcelona’s league position] says

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