Qualifiers Cirstea Conquers LI’s third professional champion in Cleveland – Tennis now
Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, August 23, 2025
Image source: Tennis on Land Facebook
Sorana Cirstea Turn Cleveland into a land of revival.
The 35-year-old Cirstea converted her fifth championship point to beat the United States An Li 6-2, 6-4 Win the WTA 250 title in Cleveland today.
While competing with her Seventh Professional Final, Cirstea collected her third Pro Tour title without surrender.
The Romanian veteran 17 years after she won her virgin crown in Tashkent, four years after she won Istanbul.
Queen of Cleveland! 😍@sorana_cistea Beat Ohio State’s championship with a score of 6-2, 6-4! #tennisintheland pic.twitter.com/lyjakycoqb
– wta (@wta) August 23, 2025
Romanian fans serenade Cirstea with the singing of “so-ra-na! so-ra-na!”. And presented her with Romanian flag and flowers
“I came here to compete in some games with absolutely zero expectations,” Cirstea said. “I want to thank my coach Adrian,” he said. [Cruciat].
“I can’t ask for a better coach. We got back together last two months ago and then went straight to the championship… I’m very, very grateful. [the Romanians] support. This is for you too. I don’t think Cleveland has that many Romanians. ”
World No. 112 Cirstea is the first qualifier to win a land championship tennis. Cirstea won two qualifying matches before heading to her first year finals by defeating Moyuka Uchijima, Jil Teichmann, Liudmila Samsonova and Anastasia Zakharova.
The champion pushed former world numbers 21 to 71 in the WTA field rankings.
After dropping six straight games at the 2023 U.S. Open quarterfinalists unplugged in the 2024 season, recovered from plantar fasciitis, and started 2025 with a 1-4-point run before reaching the Dubai Eighth Finals in February.
Li, who ranked 131st at the time last year, compiled one of her best performances. Lee prevented Yuliia Starodubtseva, Iva Jovic, Elsa Jacquemot and Xinyu Wang from entering the second final of the season.
“Congratulations to Sorana, you’re playing some really great tennis – an amazing week for you and I wish you all the best,” Lee said. “This is my first time here, but it’s an amazing event, an amazing city…
“It’s been a great week. Thanks to my team, they pass the good and the bad. I can’t ask for better people around me.”
After the last inning, Lee rose to 58 in the field ranking.
Lee stayed open today, snatching a set lead in six of the next seven games at Cirstea.
Lee insisted on starting the second set, but Cirstea ran out of the forehand error and broke 2-1.
Lee eliminated two championship points with 3-5, 15-40, then saved one-third of the championship, and eventually won a tough championship with a 4-5 record.
Cirstea beat 15-40 in her third title, but both saved both of those breakout points. Lee caused a forehand error and fought against the fourth championship point.
Reset, Cirstea shuts down the continuous mesh drive within one hour and 24 minutes.
