Surprise: Cirstea apea of ​​Sabalenka

“I have no words. I went out knowing that it was going to be a very tough game, because Aryna hits it very hard. I am very happy with my performance but, to be honest, this is unexpected”, recognized Sorana Cirstea after achieving the most important victory of his career. The 32-year-old Romanian and 74th in the world had just beaten number two, Sabalenka, by a double 6-4, to get into the semifinals of a WTA 1,000 for the second time, the one in Miami. A little less than ten years ago she had reached the final in Montreal, in which she was defeated by Serena Williams, a player about whom she confessed not long ago that she intimidated him.

“I have kept my head down and worked hard, believing in my tennis, with my coach (Swedish tennis player Thomas Johansson)”Sorana explained., who has not lost a set so far in the tournament and eliminated another top-5, Caroline Garcia, in the second round. She had already beaten the Frenchwoman two weeks ago in Indian Wells, where she was a quarterfinalist.

The player from Bucharest, who has never even been in the top-20 (her top is 21st place) and has barely won two WTA tournaments in her career, finds the prize for consistency when perhaps she least expected it. “I wish I was 20 and had these results, but at the same time I am very proud of my mentality, my work ethic, my discipline and my belief”assures. This is his 13th participation in Miami, where he had never gone so far. Before Sabalenka, she subtracted wonderfully and took advantage of the doubts that often assail the 24-year-old Belarusian with her service. In fact, the double faults reappeared, as in the Indian Wells final against Elena Rybakina, in moments of tension and cost her two of the four breaks she conceded. However, despite the defeat, he consolidates his second place in the standings, because he defended few points and leaves Florida with 205 more.

Courage

Cirstea was brave, going to the net when necessary and hitting the ball quite accurately, to counter the furious attacks from a rival who played overwhelmed by mistakes. Two cost him the game when he was trying to avoid defeat with the rest 5-4 and 15-40 in his favor. The Romanian connected a vital ace in between (she has worked a lot on service placement) and closed a victory that she will not forget and that It virtually puts him 41st in the world, 33 places higher than he was. Last year she was unemployed for two months due to a shoulder injury and now… Sometimes her dreams come true.