Aryna Sabalenka was on a quest to conquer the 2023 Miami Open but she suffered a shocking defeat in the quarterfinals to World no. 74 Sorana Cirstea.
This loss came as a surprise to many, given Sabalenka's recent impressive performance in Indian Wells and her dominant run in the Miami Open until this match. On the other hand, Cirstea had been also carving her path to victory quite smoothly, toppling opponents such as Caroline Garcia, Karolina Muchova, and Marketa Vondrousova.
Cirstea's journey so far has been marked by her unwavering determination and exceptional form, with each victory coming in straight sets. In the past, the two never met before and it was their first meeting on the WTA Tour.
In the first set, Cirstea claimed the first game with a break, showcasing her aggressive tactics right from the start. Sabalenka, however, refused to go down without a fight, making a comeback by leveling the score at 4-4 with a break in the eighth game. Cirstea's relentless pursuit of victory prevailed, as she broke Sabalenka's serve once more to secure the first set, 6-4.
The second set mirrored the drama of the first, with Cirstea again breaking Sabalenka's serve in the opening game. Sabalenka dug deep to even the score at 2-2 with a break in the fourth game, but Cirstea's snatched another break in the seventh game. She then went on to claim the set, 6-4, sealing her spot in the semifinals.
This remarkable victory propels Cirstea to her second WTA 1000 semifinals, where she is set to face the winner of the upcoming clash between Petra Kvitova and Ekaterina Alexandrova. After the match, the Romanian was really happy about her performance, saying:
“I think I’m a bit speechless. It’s a bit unexpected to be honest. People like to keep count of the age, years, results, I never do that. I just mind my own business, work hard, do my thing, believe in my game. I’m not defined by numbers.”
“I’m very fit, playing well, I think I’m playing the best tennis of my life. I’m at a good place in my life, personally. I said many times I’m not defined by numbers. I love what I do. As long as I have results, I will be here.”
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