Sorana Cîrstea (36 years old, 27 WTA) continues her extraordinary journey from Rome and is one step away from the grand final. The Romanian will fight for a place in the last act against the American Coco Gauff (22 years old), the holder of the 4th place in the world. The semi-final takes place on Thursday.
The stake for the grand final is €549,335, the guaranteed prize for entering this phase, and 650 points. The winner of the tournament will take home €1,055,285 and 1,000 points. For now, each semifinalist has secured a bonus of €289,115 and 390 WTA points.
The American ensured her presence in the semifinals after a complicated match against Mirrei Andreeva. The Russian won the first set 6-4, but Gauff completely changed the rhythm of the game and prevailed 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, after two hours and 19 minutes of play.
Cîrstea and Coco Gauff have met three times so far in the WTA circuit, and the American won each time.
The two first played at the Australian Open in 2020, and the last two encounters took place this season in Miami and Madrid.
Even though the record is 0-3, all games were balanced and none ended in minimum sets.
By the time she reached the semifinals, Sorana had eliminated Tatjana Maria, Aryna Sabalenka, Linda Noskova and Jelena Ostapenko, dropping only one set in the entire tournament.
The course at the Foro Italico has already moved her up to No. 21 in the LIVE WTA Rankings, equaling her career best, a feat previously accomplished in 2013.
The match with Gauff could bring Sorana the second WTA 1000 final of her career. The only presence of the Romanian in a final act at this level came in 2013, at the Canadian Open, where she was defeated by Serena Williams.
In the other semifinal in Rome, the winner of the duel between Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek will meet the winner of the match between Elina Svitolina and Elena Rybakina.
