Sorana Cirstea has been showing impressive form lately. She has won 11 of her last 14 matches and hasn’t dropped a single set this week. And that came despite her two separate injuries that forced her out of action for about eight months. Nevertheless, she returned with nothing but resilience in her mind as she took on the top seed, Liudmila Samsonova. If you’re wondering how that match-up went, let’s just say the resilience paid off.

The Romanian star absolutely destroyed the #19 WTA contender in the quarterfinal of the ‘Tennis in the Land’ tournament in Cleveland. This was their second encounter on the court. The rivalry between Cirstea and Samsonova began in August 2023, in the second round of the Mubadala Citi DC Open, in Washington. Therein, Samsonova had prevailed with a decisive 6-1, 6-3 win over the Romanian. But this time, it was a different story. 

The 35-year-old Romanian athlete won the battle against Samsonova in Cleveland with a commanding score of 6-4, 6-1. She exacted her revenge and now proceeds to the semifinals. Of course, Sorana Cirstea currently aims to re-enter the top 100 list. And the win over Samsonova is just the beginning of the story. After all, she definitely plans on dominating the court at the US Open.

So, how can this win over Samsonova affect Sorana Cirstea in her quest? Well, it was a statement win for the Romanian. But more importantly, this win ensured her standing in the US Open. But why did someone as strong as Cirstea fall out of the top 100 WTA list? Well, it was all because of her injuries. 

The injury that sidelined Sorana Cirstea from the top 100 list

Back in July 2024, Cirstea announced that she was suffering from plantar fasciitis. It’s a painful foot condition where the tissue running from the heel to the toes (plantar fascia) becomes inflamed. She was away from all the action for about five months as she tried to recover from the condition. However, her absence stretched on for eight months. 

Sorana Cirstea stated, “I got to the point where the pain is unbearable, [it] is very hard to train, and the only solution left is longer time off. We do not know at the moment how long the recovery will take, but I will try my best to be back on court as soon as possible.” Despite getting a new coach, her 2024 season was spent on the sidelines. 

It’s worth noting that Cirstea has played 33 back-to-back Grand Slam main draws since 2016. Her absence in the 2024 season broke this incredible streak. But she’s back on track to win back her position as the #21 WTA star. And of course, she doesn’t intend to stop there. Her win over Samsonova ensured her return to the top 100 list. It was a statement because Samsonova is a legendary player on hard ground. Defeating her in her advantageous stance was like Cirstea wanted to say that she’s back. 

But can she showcase a similar form at the US Open singles? Can she rise in the rankings and enter the top 50 before the season ends? Do let us know what you think of Sorana Cirstea’s current stance.