By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, August 23, 2025
Photo Credit: Tennis on Facebook Land
Sorana Cirstea turned Cleveland into the land of the resurrection.
35-year-old Cirstea converted her fifth championship point by beating America Ann Li 6-2, 6-4 to capture the WTA 250 title in Cleveland today.
Opposition to her seventh career final, Cirstea gathered her third career tournament championship without surrendering a group.
She comes 17 years after the Romanian veteran won the crown of her daughters in Tashkent and four years after she won Istanbul.
Queen of Cleveland! 😍@Sorana_cirstea Beat Li 6-2, 6-4 to get the title in Ohio! #Tenistinheland pic.twitter.com/lyjakycoqb
– wta (@wta) 23 August 2025
Romanian fans calmed the Cystin with calls of “So-Ra! So-Ra-Na!” and introduced her to the flag and the Romanian flowers
“I came here to play a few matches with absolutely zero expectations,” Cirstea said. “I want to thank my coach Adrian (Cruciat).
“I couldn’t look for a better coach. Lately, two months ago, we came back together and then immediately got the title … I’m very, very grateful for the support (Romanians). This is also for you guys. I didn’t think there were so many Romanians in Cleveland.”
World no. 112 Cirstea is the first qualifier to win tennis in the land title. Cirstea won two qualifying matches, then defeated Moyuka Uchijima, Jil Teichmann, Liudmila Samsonova and Anastasia Zakharova on her first path of the year.
This run -run title pushes the former world no. 71 in the direct ranking of WTA.
The 2023 Open Open Open Quarterfinist withdrew in its 2024 season to recover from Plantar fascia after throwing six games in a row, then began 2025 with a 1-4 mark before reaching the Dubai quarterfinal in February.
Li, who ranked 131st at this time last year, gathered one of her best shows. Li stopped Yuliia Starodubtseva, Iva Jovic, Elsa Jacquemot and Xinyu Wang to advance in her second season final.
“Congratulations Sorana who is playing a really good tennis – an amazing week for you and I wish you the best,” Li said. “It’s my first time here, but it’s an amazing event, amazing city …
“It was a great week. Thanks to my team they are with me through good and evil. I couldn’t look for the best people around me.”
Li is set up at no. 58 in the live ranking after this final run.
Today, Li was held to open before Cirstea rolls in six of the next seven games to grab one with a set.
Li was held to start the second set, but Cirstea drained the predetermined mistakes by breaking for 2-1.
Serving at 3-5, 15-40, Li was excavated in denial of the two championship points then saved one-third eventually earning a difficult reception for 4-5.
Serving for her third title, Cirstea dropped 15-40 but saved both points of rest. Li caused a premature mistake by fighting a fourth point of the championship.
Restoring, Cirstea drew a successive row machine to close within an hour, 24 minutes.
