StadiumPosts Logo
Stay upto date with notifications from Stadiumposts
Notifications can be managed in browser preferences

EMMA RADUCANU REACHES FIRST SEMIFINAL OF 2026 AT CLUJ-NAPOCA WTA 250

Emma Raducanu is in her first semifinal of 2026 in Cluj-Napoca and has received a favourable opening draw for the Qatar Open.

Emma Raducanu Reaches First Semifinal Of 2026 At Cluj-Napoca WTA 250
Emma Raducanu Eyes First Title Since 2021 US Open Triumph

Emma Raducanu’s week just keeps getting better. While she’s making a strong run in Cluj-Napoca, she found out she’ll open the Qatar Open in Doha against a qualifier—a pretty decent draw, all things considered.

Right now, Raducanu’s the top seed at the WTA 250 event in Cluj-Napoca, and she’s finally back in a semifinal, her first of the season. She’ll face Oleksandra Oliynykova, who’s ranked No. 91 and is playing her first-ever WTA semifinal. Not exactly a familiar opponent, but Raducanu knows not to underestimate her.

While she’s gearing up for that match, the Doha draw dropped, and honestly, it’s about as good as she could hope for—she won’t know exactly who she’s playing until the qualifiers wrap up, but getting a qualifier always feels like a small win.

Doha hasn’t been her happiest hunting ground. She’s played there twice before and lost in the first round both times, in 2024 and 2025.

Asked how she feels heading into the Cluj-Napoca semifinal, Raducanu said, “I’m really happy to be in the semifinals. It’s been a few months since I last reached one, so to be back in this position means a lot—the hard work over the past weeks is being rewarded.”

She admitted she doesn’t know much about Oliynykova, but she’s not taking her lightly. “I know she plays well. She’s beaten some strong opponents and had a very high-quality match against Madison Keys at the Australian Open. I’ll need to be very focused and in my best shape tomorrow. I don’t know how the match will unfold, but it’s clear we’ll both give our best. She’s a fighter, and I’m also pleased with how I’ve handled things throughout the week.”

If Raducanu wins the title in Cluj-Napoca, she’ll head into Doha with her first trophy since that electrifying US Open run in 2021.

ARYNA SABALENKA WITHDRAWS FROM QATAR OPEN TO RECOVER FROM MELBOURNE FINAL

Aryna Sabalenka joins a wave of withdrawals from the Qatar Open, seeking rest after her emotional Australian Open final defeat.

top-news
Sabalenka Confirms Return Date For Dubai Championships After Strategic Rest

Aryna Sabalenka, fresh off her Australian Open final run, has decided to skip the Qatar Open. Her withdrawal is just the latest in a wave of big-name exits that’s left the Doha tournament looking a little thin at the top. After losing to Elena Rybakina in Melbourne, Sabalenka wants more time to rest up before diving back into the tour grind.

With Sabalenka out, Iga Swiatek steps into the top seed spot. The draw’s opened up even more because Jessica Pegula, world No. 6, has also pulled out. Sabalenka actually lost in the first round in Doha last year, so she isn’t missing out on many ranking points by sitting this one out.

That’s not all—Naomi Osaka won’t be playing in the Middle East either, and both Madison Keys and Iva Jovic have confirmed they’re out, citing physical issues or changes to their plans. Marta Kostyuk is still recovering from injury, so she’s on the sidelines too. Lois Boisson, last year’s French Open crowd favourite, hasn’t played a match this season and won’t be in Doha.

All these withdrawals mean Alexandra Eala, Emiliana Arango, Daria Kasatkina, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and Cristina Bucsa get bumped up into the main draw.

Despite earning over £1 million for her run in Australia, Sabalenka’s track record in Doha hasn’t been great since she won the tournament on her debut back in 2020. She’s expected to return for the Dubai Championships the following week.

After her tough loss to Rybakina—where she was up 3-0 in the third set—Sabalenka wasn’t in the mood to break it all down. “She played an incredible match, and I tried my very best. I was fighting until the last point,” she said, managing a laugh at her press conference. “I had my chances. It feels like I missed a couple, but that’s tennis. Today you lose, tomorrow you win. Hopefully, I’ll win more this season.”

When a reporter asked when she’d sit down with her team to process the loss, Sabalenka looked at her agent and joked, “When… today? Oh, fuck you, no! Maybe in a week. Or maybe a few days. Whenever I feel like I can move on from this.”

She admitted she was a mess after the match—laughing, crying, just letting it all out. “I was really upset with myself. I had my opportunities. I played great until a certain point, then I just couldn’t handle her aggression today. But overall, I think I played great tennis in Australia—even in the final, I was fighting. She was just better today. We’ll talk as a team—though right now, they’re all avoiding me. They know it’s not exactly healthy to be around me at the moment!”

DIGITAL DIVORCE: DISCOVER WHY JUAN CARLOS FERRERO UNFOLLOWED CARLOS ALCARAZ AFTER MELBOURNE

Juan Carlos Ferrero unfollows Carlos Alcaraz on Instagram after the star’s Australian Open win and a controversial victory speech.

top-news
Juan Carlos Ferrero Unfollows Carlos Alcaraz Following Australian Open Victory Snub

Juan Carlos Ferrero has put some real distance between himself and Carlos Alcaraz since their split last month.

Alcaraz surprised everyone when he announced he was parting ways with Ferrero, just a month before the Australian Open. They’d been working together since Alcaraz was 16.

Naturally, people have been asking both of them about the breakup. At first, Ferrero sounded like he might be open to coaching Alcaraz again someday. But now, after Alcaraz’s win in Melbourne, Ferrero’s actions say something different.

Ferrero actually unfollowed Alcaraz, along with two members of his support team, on Instagram. Alcaraz just won the Australian Open—his first Grand Slam title without Ferrero in his corner. Samuel Lopez, another Spanish coach, filled in as Alcaraz’s main man this time. The win made Alcaraz the youngest man ever to complete a Career Slam.

Fans and fellow players have showered Alcaraz with support after his historic win, but not everyone seems thrilled. Right after his seventh major, people noticed Ferrero had stopped following Alcaraz on social media. He also unfollowed Alcaraz’s physio and fitness coaches, though he still follows Lopez.

As for why Ferrero decided to cut digital ties, nobody really knows. But fans have theories. Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach, criticised Alcaraz for not mentioning Ferrero in his victory speech. “It bothered me; you can’t forget all the work Juan Carlos did over the years,” Toni said on Radio Estadio. “If Rafa had acted that way with [Carlos] Moya, I wouldn’t have liked it.”

After Ferrero’s social media move, one fan wondered aloud on X, “Is he upset that Alcaraz didn’t mention him in his AO speech, or is it just too painful to watch?”

Most people seem to think it’s the second reason. For Ferrero, watching Alcaraz succeed without him just stings too much. As one fan put it, “You can be happy for someone, but sometimes it just hurts to see it happen without you.”

Premier League Standings

WhatsApp Read More News