Aryna Sabalenka crashes out of Miami Open to Sorana Cirstea, Romanian advances to semi-finals

Aryna Sabalenka crashed out of the Miami Open in the quarter-finals losing in straight sets to Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-4.

Playing in only her second Miami quarter-final, three double faults from Sabalenka at crucial moments in the first and second sets proved decisive, while the unseeded Romanian produced a highly composed display to progress to the last four.

Cirstea, who had never beaten a top-three player in her career until Wednesday, will play either No. 18 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova or No. 15 seed Petra Kvitova in the semi-finals.

“I think I’m a bit speechless,” Cirstea said in her on-court interview after the match.

“I came out knowing it was going to be a really tough match. Aryna hits so hard so I knew I had to hold my ground and I’m very happy with my performance today. It’s a bit unexpected to be honest!

“I guess people like to talk about the age, the years, the results, but I never do that. I just mind my own business. I just work hard, do my thing, believe in my game, work with my coach Thomas Johansson who I just started working with in December and I think it’s going great.

“I’m not defined by numbers, I’m just trying to keep my head down and work hard.”

Cirstea got off to the ideal start in the pair’s first-ever meeting on the WTA tour, breaking the Sabalenka serve in the very first game.

The Romanian held off Sabalenka’s punishing forehands, but the Belarusian broke back to make it 4-4 as a winner off that wing restored parity.

Sabalenka rescued a break point in the very next game with another forehand winner, but Cirstea produced another thanks to a sensational winner of her own, before sealing the break when the world No. 2 double faulted and smashed her racquet in frustration.

Cirstea wrapped up the opening set with a comfortable hold of serve – finished off with an ace – in 37 minutes.

Cirstea immediately went a break up at the start of the second set due to another double fault from the Sabalenka serve. But again the Belarussian broke back, this time with a backhand winner down the line to make it 2-2.

At 3-3 a vicious backhand service return from Cirstea got her to break point, and it was a Sabalenka double fault that put her in front once again.

Sabalenka remained within touching distance, but she could not claw a break back as Cirstea remained level-headed to rescue two break points at 5-4 up and serve out the match.

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