WTA Miami: Sorana Cirstea’s hour has finally come (again)

If the permanence in the excellence of Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina promises beautiful days for women’s tennis, the stories of perseverance also have something to inspire future generations. After Tatjana Maria at Wimbledon and Magda Linette at the Australian Open, Sorana Cirstea is the latest proof that thirties can be radiant on the WTA circuit. Already a surprise quarter-finalist in Indian Wells, she has therefore confirmed in Miami where she has already done better since a WTA 1000 semi-final awaits her a few days before she turns 33.

One thing is certain: the current 74th in the world will not have stolen her place in the last four, she who released for the first time in her career two Top 5 players in the same tournament, Caroline Garcia and Aryna Sabalenka. His capital performance against the world number 2 – who had lost only twice this season in 22 matches – is also his greatest victory. And yet, if she flashed a beaming smile and seemed to stare at the horizon for a long time, it was not in disbelief.

“Before this match, I believed in my chancesshe confided to the microphone of our colleagues from Tennis Channel. And I think, regardless of the opponent, you have to believe that you can win or there’s no point in showing up on the court. So I knew I had the game to win, but at the same time when Aryna is having a good day, she can sweep you down hard. In the end, I was more relieved than surprised, because I had been waiting for this result for a while and it finally came..”

As you will have understood, Sorana Cirstea does not lack self-confidence. And for good reason, this is not the first time that she has found herself in the last four of a WTA 1000: she had already achieved it in Toronto in… 2013. Almost a decade ago, then. At the time, she had even pushed the adventure to the final, beating Na Li (then world number 5 and already crowned at Roland-Garros) in half before falling on a bone in the person of Serena Williams.

“I always had the game to be able to succeed. I have always been an aggressive and dangerous player, but with ups and downs. And against the best, it is not allowed. You have to be very solid from start to finish, very focused. You can’t exit the game even during a game, because it can cost you the victory. I found tranquility, serenity, and of course the results gave me confidence. I’m calmer in appearance, but I fight as much as possible“, she still estimated.

Johannsson, new coach and key piece of the puzzle

Cirstea has to date 14 seasons finished in the Top 100, including 7 in the Top 50 (21st in the world at its peak after its final in Toronto). She had the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam at Roland-Garros in 2009 (at only 19 years old) and two other eighths at the Australian Open in 2017 and last year. The Romanian therefore does not come out of nowhere. But how to explain this upturn so striking and so late?

“I’m ecstatic but not just because of the result, more because of the work I’ve done recently. I have worked really hard since October and the start of my collaboration with Thomas Johannsson, both on and off the court. I had to wait for it to pay off because in Australia and the Middle East the results weren’t coming. So you start to doubt, of course. But now, I am calm because I see that what we have put in place is working“, she insisted again.

The Swede, winner of the Australian Open in 2002 to everyone’s surprise, was not the most talented player of his generation, nor did he have a lethal weapon in his gear. But his tactical knowledge had little equivalent on the circuit and it is a considerable asset to pass on when you become a coach. Cirstea also takes advantage of this with undisguised pleasure.

“He is great at reading the game. He tries to raise my tennis IQ in a way, that is to say, to pay attention to my position on the court, to that of my opponent, to try to choose my shots better. He always makes me play aggressive tennis, but more varied with slice approaches from time to time, or a few bell shots from time to time. He’s trying to make me a more complete player, basically.“, she detailed to Tennis Channel.

Before specifying:I was a dangerous player before, but I had a plan A and that was it. Now I also have a plan B in case the first one doesn’t work and the sensations aren’t as good. So there have been a lot of improvements in my tennis lately and I’m very happy about that..”

From this point of view, the contrast with Caroline Garcia was striking during these two victories against the Frenchwoman in California and Florida. His new strengths also allowed him to stem the start of Aryna Sabalenka’s revolt (only 9 unforced errors). Everything comes at the right time to who knows how to wait could be the new motto of Sorana Cirstea. What if 2023 was the season of maturity for the Romanian?