Sorana Cirstea Hong Kong quarterfinal loss to Alexandra Shubladze, Digi Mart USA News (Hong Kong): Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, 36 and ranked 15th in the WTA, was eliminated on Friday, November 6, by Alexandra Shubladze, 21 and ranked 136th, in the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 tournament in Hong Kong. Cirstea lost 2-6, 3-6 in one hour and 27 minutes, and it remains to be seen whether it was the last match of her career.
Cirstea was playing in what could be the final tournament of her career. Earlier this year she had spoken of her wish for this season to be her last, and if she has not changed her mind, the Hong Kong event marked the end of a long career.
Cirstea appeared to test Shubladze early in the first game, moving her from side to side to see what she was capable of. Cirstea led 40-15 and seemed headed for a simple game, but the Russian did not give up.
She defended well and, playing with the unpressured mentality of an underdog, broke serve and took the lead.
In the next game Cirstea again had 40-15, but Shubladze saved both break points and leveled the set. At 40-40 Cirstea fell to the court off balance, got up, said something to her coach Adrian Cruciat, and shook her head in disapproval.
The 21-year-old continued to dominate and quickly pulled ahead to 4-0, an unexpected score before the match began. After 25 minutes Cirstea finally won a game and had a moment of respite.
Although she did not appear to be in her best physical condition, Cirstea hoped for a comeback and, at 2-5, saved three set points before earning two break points. Although Shubladze’s confidence seemed shaken, she held on and closed the first set 6-2.
Cirstea started the second set energized, won the first game without trouble, and led 30-0 on her opponent’s serve. Shubladze came back, but Cirstea earned her sixth break point of the match.
As with the previous five, the Russian saved it and then managed to level the set.
Shubladze regained her confidence and dominated the next game, earning her third break of the match to take the lead in the second set at 2-1. In the following game the 136th-ranked player pulled away, but Cirstea responded and stayed one break behind, also hitting her first ace of the match.
Cirstea continued to play at a good level and led 40-0 on her opponent’s serve, securing three break points. Shubladze saved the first, but then made an error and Cirstea earned her first break of the match, leveling at 3-3.
Her effort proved futile, as Shubladze played with a sense of urgency in the next game, took advantage of the errors of the 15th-ranked player, including a double fault, and broke serve. That moment decided the match.
After one hour and 27 minutes, Alexandra Shubladze won 6-2, 6-3 and advanced to the semifinals of the WTA 250 Hong Kong tournament. She will face American Claire Liu, ranked 102nd, who beat Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez, ranked 67th, 6-1, 6-4.
