Miami Open | Sorana Cirstea surprises Aryna Sabalenka and advances to the semis

(Miami) Surprise in Miami: Aryna Sabalenka (2^e world), who was one of the favorites of the Florida WTA 1000, was eliminated in the quarter-finals, beaten 6-4, 6-4 by Romania’s Sorana Cirstea (74^e), Wednesday.

The 24-year-old Belarusian, victorious at the Australian Open and who remained on a defeat in the final of Indian Wells, where the Kazakh Elena Rybakina took her revenge from Melbourne, was betrayed by too many irregularities in her game , having generated a lot of nervousness, and vice versa.

More constant and solid in the exchanges, Cirstea, who also had the scalp of Caroline Garcia (4^e) au 2^e turn, took advantage of his opponent’s feverishness on serve and backhand, managing to break it twice to pocket the first set in 36 minutes.

Sabalenka did not hide her frustration, coming close to smashing her racquet several times on the ground.

After giving up her serve again at the start of the second set, the Belarusian pulled herself together, her power finally being coupled with a bit of precision. But it was only momentary, because she gave in again on her commitment, offering a new break to her rival on her sixth double fault.

The 32-year-old Romanian did not fail to conclude then, reaching for only the second time the last four of a tournament in this category, just below the Grand Slams, ten years after having succeeded in Toronto, where Serena Williams stood in her way to the final.

In search of a third title on the circuit, Cirstea will be opposed to the Czech Petra Kvitova (12^e) ou Russe Ekaterina Alexandrova (18^e).

Jannik Sinner advances to the semi-finals

Jannik Sinner (11^e world), finalist of the event in 2021, easily returned to the last four of the Masters 1000, beating 6-3, 6-1 the Finn Emil Ruusuvuori (54^e).

The 21-year-old Italian will then face the American Taylor Fritz (10^e) or the world No. 1 and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who beat him two weeks ago in the semi-finals of Indian Wells.

Sinner had a considerable psychological advantage in Florida over Ruusuvuori, whom he had beaten in the previous two editions, in 1/8^e finals in 2021, then in 2^e turn last year.

And that was confirmed in this one-sided match, interrupted by the rain for almost two hours, without disturbing the domination of the Italian, very fit in this spring.