World No.44 Sorana Cirstea has ended Karolina Pliskova’s bid to return to world No.1 with a 6-1, 7-5, win in the third round of the China Open in Beijing.
Cirstea, who hadn’t defeated a top five player since Li Na in 2013, illustrated her potential with a clinical opening set. After dropping her serve at the start of the match, she responded emphatically against her error-stricken opponent by winning six consecutive games. Pliskova, who is normally praised for her consistent serve, could only manage to win 44% of her first service points.
Knowing that a title in Beijing this week would elevate her back to world No.1, Pliskova responded at the start of the second set. Taking more control of the rallies and using her power, the Czech surged to a 5-2 lead. Still, she was unable to capitalize against a determined Cirstea. Four set points came and went for Pliskova as Cristea fought back to level 5-5. In what was an unlikely comeback, the Romanian continued her winning game streak to claim a straight sets win. Converting her second match point after a Pliskova backhand sailed beyond the baseline.
“I didn’t think about her ranking, I just focused on my game today,” wtatennis.com quoted Cirstea saying during her post-match press conference. “I’ve been playing well lately, it’s just that probably results didn’t come as quick as I hoped. But I was working well lately, and doing the right things, and I always say that hard work will pay off in the end.”
It was a far from perfect performance from both players. Cirstea hit 16 winners to 25 unforced errors, but benefited heavily from Pliskova’s error count of 25. Becoming the first Romanian player to reach the quarter-finals of the China Open since Simona Halep in 2014, Cirstea credits her win to not applying too much pressure on her own performance.
“I was just playing point by point, I was trying not to focus on the score. I was just trying to play the right ball at the right time.” She reflected when talking about trailing 2-5 in the second set. “And I think for me it worked, because I didn’t put any pressure on myself.”
Reaching the last eight of a Premier mandatory event for the second time this season, Cirstea will take on doubles partner Jelena Ostapenko. The French Open champion came through after her opponent, Peng Shuai, retired due to a knee injury.
“It’s not the result I wanted to have,” Ostapenko admitted. “Of course I feel bad for Shuai, and hopefully she can recover and will be fine.”
It will be the second meeting between the two players is as many months. At the US Open Ostapenko triumphed over the Romanian in straight sets.
“She’s a really nice girl and a great player, and I think we’re good friends now,” Ostapenko said of Cirstea. “She plays similar to me, I think — [Cirstea] plays aggressive tennis. And in New York we had some really good rallies, so hopefully tomorrow we will have a good match.”
Carolina Garcia won her all-French clash with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-1, win over Alize Cornet. The Wuhan Open champion, who is now on an eight-match winning streak, was broken at the start of both sets before breaking back to take control of proceedings.
Garcia is currently chasing after Johanna Konta for a place in the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore. This week she is required to reach at least the semifinals in Beijing to stay within contention of an automatic place.
