.Sorana Cîrstea (35 years old, WTA No. 45) was defeated in the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong tournament by Leylah Fernandez (23 years old, WTA No. 22), with a score of 4-6, 4-6. The Canadian advanced to the semifinals, where she will face her compatriot Victoria Mboko (19 years old, WTA No. 21).
Thirteen days after her semifinal appearance in Osaka, Sorana Cîrstea fought to qualify for the penultimate round in Hong Kong. To do so, the Romanian had to overcome Leylah Fernandez, who had eliminated her in the tournament in Japan.
Leylah Fernandez dominated the match against Sorana Cîrstea in Hong Kong.
The match began evenly, with the two opponents going toe-to-toe. The first to have a chance to break the momentum was Cîrstea, who came close to breaking serve and taking a 4-2 lead. Fernández recovered, leveled the score at 3-3, and from that moment on, dominated the match.
The world number 22 had an excellent performance in Hong Kong, closing out the first set 6-4 and then securing a comfortable 5-1 lead in the second. In the seventh game of the second set, Fernández squandered two match points, and Sorana staged an impressive comeback.
Cîrstea rallied from 1-5 down to level the score at 4-5 and threatened her opponent’s victory, but the 23-year-old remained calm and, with her own serve, won four consecutive points. As a result, Leylah Fernández prevailed 6-4, 6-4, after one hour and 44 minutes.
Final. Sorana Cirstea – Leylah Fernandez 4-6, 4-6
4-6, Fernandez’s game: The Canadian serves brilliantly, winning four consecutive points to take the victory.
4-5, Sorana’s game: The Romanian wins her third consecutive match.
3-5, Sorana’s game: Our athlete succeeds at the break and attempts a memorable comeback.
2-5, Sorana’s game: Cirstea saves two match points and holds on a little longer in this match.
1-5, Fernandez’s game: The world number 22 wins another game and is close to the semifinals.
1-4, Sorana’s game: The world number 45 halts her opponent’s winning streak and wins the first game of the second set.
0-4, Fernandez’s game: Cirstea has no answers against the player who also defeated her in Osaka two weeks ago.
0-3, game to Fernández: The Romanian started well, leading 30-0, but her opponent comes back and secures another set point.
0-2, game to Fernández: Sorana has two set points, but fails to capitalize on either, and Fernández wins her sixth game of the last seven.
0-1, game to Fernández: The Canadian is tied at 0-0.
The second set begins.
4-6, game and set to Fernández: After a close game, Fernández serves and wins her first set.
4-5, game to Sorana: The 35-year-old breaks her opponent’s winning streak and keeps her hopes alive in the first set.
3-5, match to Fernández: Third consecutive loss for the 23-year-old. Our player is nowhere to be seen.
3-4, game to Fernández: Cîrstea seems affected by the errors in the previous game, and Fernández breaks the defense.
3-3, game to Fernández: Sorana has two break point opportunities, but squanders them and the Canadian levels the score.
3-2, game to Sorana: Sorana regains the lead.
2-2, game to Fernández: Game to love this time, Sorana is having trouble with her opponent’s serve.
2-1, game to Sorana: Not without excitement, because the opponent had two break points, saved by Cîrstea!
1-1, game to Fernández: Leylah was very close to breaking the serve, but a double break point was saved by Sorana. Până la urmă, a right-handed shot on the line, leveled the score.
1-0, game Sorana: câteva emoții în start, dar jucătoarea noastră începe meciul cum nu se putea mai bine, adjudecându-și primul game.
Sorana serves cousin.
Pray 13:49 – Cele două jucătoare sunt la încălzire, meciul stă să-nceapă.
Parcursul Soranei Cîrstea in Hong Kong
Turul 1: 7-5, 6-3 vs. Dalma Galfi (27 years old, 96 WTA)
Optimal final: 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 vs. Ajla Tomljanovic (32 years old, 86 WTA)
Final results: 4-6, 4-6 vs. Leylah Fernandez (23 years old, WTA 22)
Leylah Fernandez’s match in Hong Kong
Turul 1: 6-1, 6-4 vs. Xiyu Wang (24 years old, WTA 167)
Final: 6-4, 6-1 vs. Eva Lys (23 years old, WTA 44)
Final: 6-4, 6-4 vs. Sorana Cîrstea (35 years old, WTA 45)
