Sorana Cirstea Wins Cleveland WTA In Four Years To Build US Open Steam

Ranked 112th as she recovers from foot surgery last year, Cirstea advanced through qualifying without dropping a set all week, boosting her confidence ahead of the US Open starting on Sunday.

Cirstea overcame some late-match nerves, missing three match points on Li’s serve in the ninth game of the second set and then saving two break points before securing victory on her fifth match point in the following game.

This triumph marks her third career title and her first since Istanbul in April 2021.

“It’s been a special week for me," Cirstea said. “I really just came here to play some matches with no expectations."

Ranked 69th, Li was aiming for her second career title but, after enduring three consecutive three-set matches, including a semi-final win over second-seeded Wang Xinyu, she couldn’t match Cirstea’s energy.

Cirstea broke Li’s serve three times and saved all three break points she faced in the 1-hour 24-minute match.

Both players will now head to Flushing Meadows, where Cirstea, entered in the final Grand Slam of the year under a protected ranking, will start her campaign against Argentina’s Solana Sierra. Li is scheduled to face Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova.

(With AFP Inputs)