Cleveland Open champion Sorana Cirstea has trophy stolen at US Open

One of the best moments of Sorana Cirstea's career has been tainted after her 2025 Cleveland Open trophy was stolen.

35-year-old Cirstea might have thought her best days were over. She had to go through the qualifying rounds in Cleveland, and has also been hampered by injury issues during the last 18 months.

Cirstea's level in Cleveland, held the week before the ongoing US Open began, was incredible. The Romanian did not drop a set across seven matches, and none of her opponents came close to beating her.

The 2023 US Open quarterfinalist's run included defeating the No. 1 seed Liudmila Samsonova. She did not drop more than six games in any of her matches, and could have competed against almost any women's player in that form.

That triumph was the third WTA title of her career, and first since April 2021. It could be the veteran's final title before retirement, meaning having the Cleveland Open trophy stolen left her feeling utterly dejected.

Cirstea revealed the news in an Instagram story. She pleaded with the robber or robbers to bring the trophy back and said it would be of no material value, but it had a lot of sentimental value after she won the Cleveland title with some of her best tennis ever.

There has been no update from Cirstea since her announcement. Hopefully, the thief or thieves feel some shame for their actions and give the Romanian back the trophy she earned by playing superbly in Cleveland.

Although not directly stated, Cirstea's post seems to imply that she will not take any action against the individual or group responsible if they give her the trophy back. The WTA star just wants what she won back.

A few days ago, Cirstea and two-time US Open semifinalist Karolina Muchova had a terrific battle in the round of 64 at Flushing Meadows. The Czech required some of her best tennis and composure to come through a high-quality match.

Muchova ultimately prevailed 7-6, 6-7, 6-4. That result was even more impressive because of an upsetting moment where she stopped playing after unexpectedly noticing her ex-boyfriend in the stands.

The 2023 French Open runner-up was reduced to tears after he refused to leave the stadium. Thankfully, he eventually did exit, and Muchova's resilience to refocus after that moment deserves immense credit.

Emma Raducanu had a similar incident in her 2025 Dubai Championships encounter against Muchova. The 2021 US Open winner hid behind the umpire's chair after seeing a man who had followed her at other tournaments during the Middle Eastern swing.

Raducanu later admitted it took her a while to get over that incident fully. That moment and what happened to Muchova demonstrate the dangers that WTA players face from possessive and creepy men.

Being a high-profile tennis star has many advantages, but players also deal with many challenges and dangers that force them to take precautions.