Life on the tour has been far from straightforward for former world No.21 Sorana Cirstea as she bids to return to the top tier of tennis.
The former French Open quarterfinalist moved agonizingly close to the top 20 back in 2013, achieving a ranking best of 21 in August that year. Unfortunately, she failed to get inside the top 20 after a decline in her form during the early part of 2014 followed by a long-term shoulder injury which has troubled her for the past 18 months. Throughout 2015 the Romanian only managed to reach the quarterfinals at one tournament, an $100,000 ITF tournament in Contrexeville, France. The downfall resulted in Cirstea ending the year at 244th in the world, her lowest year-end ranking since 2006.
After her recent troubles both on and off the court, the 25-year-old now appears to be getting back to her full potential. Starting this year at two ITF $25,000 events in Brazil, Cirstea claimed the title in Bertioga. The triumph was her first title of any sort since 2011. She continued her winning momentum from Bertioga at this week’s Rio Open. Facing fifth seed Polona Hercog in the second round on Wednesday, the world No.199 battled to win 7-5,7-6(3). The win takes Cirstea into her first WTA Tour quarterfinal since 2014. Speaking shortly after her Rio victory, she said that she was once against enjoying tennis injury-free.
“It has been a year and half that I was struggling with the shoulder,” Wtatennis.com quoted Cirstea as saying.
“It was a frustrating time. But I’m very happy it’s over. I changed my team, a Romanian one from back home. I’m trying to settle everything down. I was able to practice very hard in the off-season; I was healthy and that’s the most important thing for me.
“This injury was also a lesson; I’m enjoying my time on the court more, being pain-free and being able to play on a high level”.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2016 the Romanian has stated that her priority is looking after her shoulder and ensuring that she doesn’t injure it again. With a new mentality and team to support her, Cirstea is eager to return back into the top 100.
“The objective is to get back to the Top 100. That’s the plan, and I like to go step by step.” She said. a
In the quarterfinals in Rio Cirstea will play either third seed Danka Kovinić or Spain’s Sílvia Soler Espinosa. If she is successful in the last eight, the world No.199 will play in her first WTA Tour semifinal since the 2013 Canadian Open.
