Sorana Kirstia, who is ranked 38th in the WTA ranking, explained in a podcast why she cannot call Simona Halep the best tennis player in Romania.

Sorana Kirstia, Romania’s best player: “It would be self-deprecating”

Even though Simona Halep is the top-ranked Romanian in the WTA rankings, Sorana said she cannot call another player “the best” because that would disrespect her.

“This is a difficult question, and I will tell you what I will tell you why. I think when you’re a successful athlete, you have to be your number 1 critic, but at the same time, you have to be your number 1 fan. I mean, I’m also humble, but at the same time, I have an arrogance because I know my worth

It is very difficult to tell you that X is the best tennis player in Romania. It means that I underestimate myself. I mean, I think that’s why I’m still playing, that I’m the best, that I can beat anybody, that I can do it, and that keeps you going.

You understand (not pointing to Speak, the podcast creator), but the world won’t. How to say it when it is on paper” – Sorana Kirsteaas part of the La Fileu podcast.

Sorana Kirstea and the stress of anti-doping tests: “I passed three in one week”

Days after Simona Halep was suspended for testing positive for roxadustat, Kirstea explained how strict anti-doping controls are and said she was also tested three times in one week.

“It’s an app where you have to set aside an hour every day during which you can take the test. They check us in tournaments, but we have a program that also checks you outside of tournaments. When they want, without announcement. And you have an application every day and you say: “I’m usually at home at 6-7 in the morning.” Because I know I’m home between 6 and 7 in the morning. You must allow a time when they can come and check on you.

Very often at 6 o’clock in the morning I hear someone knocking on the door. They come to your house, they came to mine last week too. I come all the time. Basically you have to be available for an hour a day when they can come and check on you. Wherever it is, it doesn’t matter, I’m going to France next week. I have to give the address of the hotel in France and the time when I will be found. I also had three in one week.

This is called a failed test (no, when the athlete is not found for anti-doping control), it is called a missed test. If you miss three tests, you will be suspended for two years. This is not for fun.

I accidentally missed the plane, I flew from Romania to Seoul and lost contact. I forgot, I just forgot to change my time, I set it to 22-22. I arrived at the hotel at one o’clock in the morning and completely forgot.

They came, but they didn’t find me. They stayed there for that hour because they have to stay for the rest of the class and they gave me a missed test. Sit with maximum tension. You need to change the program, no excuses. And you won’t return it, they are very strict” – Sorana Kirstea.

• Sorana Kirstea, Simona Halep’s message of support: ‘She will never touch any banned substance’

Sports seriously harm health: “I no longer have knees”

High-profile sports require many sacrifices, and Sorana spoke about the medical problems she faces due to the constant effort.

“I don’t know what it means to not feel pain. When I get out of bed, the first thing I do is see what hurts me the most. At this level, you have no choice. Sports are seriously harmful to health. Mass sports help health a lot.

But sports are seriously harmful to health. Well, I don’t have knees anymore. I no longer have cartilage in my knees. I get hyaluronic acid injections in my knees every three to four months.

I have two lumbar hernias, I have a cervical hernia, I have abdominal tears on both sides, I don’t know how many sprains, I have a torn plantar fascia, I’m recovering from a shoulder, you don’t want to know what’s on my shoulder” – Sorana Kirstea.

Rafael Nadal, the favorite of Sorana Kirstea from the BIG 3

Kirstia said she doesn’t know who is the best among the members of the BIG 3 (Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic), but explained why the Iberian is her favourite.

“I don’t know who is the best, I will say that my favorite is: Nadal. First of all, it is a monument of labor. There is no one who works more. I water gun next to him. How much he worked on his life and how disciplined he was…it’s fascinating.

Modesty impresses you the most. I have never seen a more humble athlete than Nadal. And think that he is wildly popular wherever he is. He is constantly focused on. I have seen athletes who at some point could no longer do it. That doesn’t exist with him, I’ve never seen him refuse an autograph, refuse a photo.

When you talk to him, you feel like you’re talking to an ordinary tennis player. Extremely modest, down-to-earth. I saw him many times at the airport. He is the first to greet you. He came up to me and said hello, and then I saw him getting dressed. I remember telling the coach that I couldn’t believe that Rafa was on the line. The man got in line, he didn’t try to get ahead” – Sorana Kirstea.

In 2023, Sorana Kirstea will be coached by Thomas Johansson

Sorana Kirstya has big plans for the 2023 season in the WTA tournament, our athlete is making a new change at the level of a coach.

Sorana, who is ranked 38th in the world, will be coached by Tomas Johansson (47 years old), freelance journalist Daniel Radu reports.

According to the cited source, the coach is already in Bucharest, where he and Sorana are preparing for the 2023 WTA season.

• Here you can learn more about Sorana Kirstya’s new coach.