2025 Transylvania Open Cluj WTA Draw: Halep, Potapova, Parks & More

Simona Halep's first appearance this season will be on home soil at the 2025 Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca. The two-time Grand Slam champion's level will be tested because she has been given a challenging draw.

Halep hopes to build some momentum in Cluj-Napoca after a tough start to her comeback to the WTA Tour last year. She returned after her doping suspension was reduced to nine months in March.

The 2018 French Open champion made a promising start by being competitive against Paula Badosa at the 2024 Miami Open before eventually succumbing to a loss in three sets after a high-quality match.

However, throughout the rest of 2024, Halep was hampered by injury issues and played very few tournaments. Her most recent match was a loss to Yue Yuan at the 2024 Hong Kong Open, a WTA 125 event.

Unsurprisingly, Halep was given a wild card for her home tournament in Cluj-Napoca. In the opening round, the 33-year-old will face Lucia Bronzetti, who possesses a dangerous forehand when it is firing.

Winning that opening round contest promises to be difficult, but things could be even more challenging in the next round. Halep would likely face the No. 2 seed, Peyton Stearns, in the round of 16.

Stearns has made significant improvements in the last 12 months. Last year, she held match points to beat Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling battle at the 2024 Indian Wells Open before narrowly losing to the world No. 1.

The American also pushed her compatriot Emma Navarro hard at the 2025 Australian Open. Navarro, who went on to reach the quarterfinal, had to dig deep to grind out a lengthy three-set victory.

Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Jodie Burrage, who competed well against Coco Gauff at the Australian Open, could be Halep's quarterfinal opponents if she makes it to the Transylvania Open.

Read also

Sabalenka Slammed For Stealing Keys' Moment With Outburst In Australian Open Final

The other quarter in Halep's half has some interesting matches. No. 2 seed Olga Danilovic made headlines at the recent Australian Open by beating the 2024 US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula. She starts her campaign in Cluj-Napoca against the big-serving Alycia Parks.

Multiple-time Grand Slam doubles champion Katerina Siniakova is also in that quarter. The Czech has been drawn against the talented but inconsistent Briton Francesca Jones in the round of 32.

Anastasia Potapova is the No. 1 seed in the other half of the draw. She recently did an interview that included a discussion about her divorce from the ATP player Alexander Shevchenko after less than a year of marriage.

Potapova will face Julia Grabher in the opening round. The other matches in Potapova's quarter are Anna Blinkova vs. Sara Sorribes Tormo, Jaqueline Cristian vs. Ella Seidel, and Arantxa Rus vs. Viktorija Golubic.

Sorana Cirstea, another home favorite, is in the other quarter of the main draw. If she wins, she will play Marina Stakusic in the first round before a battle against either Jessica Bouzas Maneiro or Laura Siegemund.

The remaining contests in that quarter of the Transylvania Open draw are Anhelina Kalinina vs. Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Anna Bondar vs. Suzan Lamens.

Read also

Elena Rybakina Adds New Team Member Linked To Controversial Coach Vukov

2025 Transylvania Open Cluj WTA Draw: