Sorana Kirstya reached the semifinals of the “WTA 1000” tournament in Dubai, and our athlete called the victory with Marketa Vondrousova “the biggest comeback” in her career.

>> Sorana Kirstea, WTA Dubai semi-final – incredible comeback against the Wimbledon champion, winning six match points

Sorana Kirstya after the match with Marketa Vondrousova: “I don’t even know how I managed to get this victory”

Kirstya led 2-6, 1-5, but saved six match points and won after two hours and 43 minutes of play with a score of 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-2.

“I believe that this is the biggest comeback in my career. I didn’t even think I could win, I just wanted to get more points and nothing else, I told myself to resist as best as possible, not to give up. But somehow it was connected, I managed to get this victory, but I honestly don’t know how.

I love to play tennis, I have the adrenaline that is needed to play at a high level. I work every day to stay at a high level and please the fans in the stands” –

“I believe that this is the biggest comeback in my career. At 1-5 in the second set, I didn’t even think I was going to win, I was just thinking about getting more points, but somehow I managed to get that win. I don’t even know how.

I am proud of my longevity on the track. I love to play tennis, I love to feel that adrenaline and reward the people in the stands with my game. I know that there were also many Romanians in the stands, I thank them all.

I think we are very close to each other in terms of value at this level. I’m glad I’m still on tour and I’ll fight for my chance tomorrow” – Sorana Kirsteaduring the field interview.

It will become known after the incredible return of Sorana Kirstea from the match with Marketa Vondrousova

• Kirstya and Vondrousova have so far met four times at the WTA tournament with a score of 3:1 in favor of our player. All matches were played on hard, and after Marketa’s victory at the Australian Open 2021, three victories followed by Sorana: St. Petersburg in 2022, Miami in 2023 and Dubai in 2024.

• For reaching the semifinals in Dubai, Kirstya will receive a check for $158,944 and 390 points in the WTA singles ranking.

• Sorana will fight for a place in the grand final with Jasmine Paolini (26 WTA). The Italian entered the first WTA 1000 semifinal in her career after defeating Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina (the 3rd favorite).

• Sorana Kirstea and Jasmine Paolini met twice before, and each time the Italian won in three sets: 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 at Portorož 2021 and 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 at Roland Garros 2023 .

• If she passes Paolini, Sorana Kirstea will score 2,483 points and move up to 15th place in the WTA Live ranking (which will be the best ranking in her career).

• In case of defeat by Jasmin, the Romanian will overtake even the Italian and will remain in 22nd place (the highest was 21st in August 2013). Sorana could also be defeated by Anna Kalinska if she loses in the semifinals and the Russian wins the competition.

Sorana Kirstea repeated her best ranking in her career – 21st place

Sorana has beaten big names in recent events (Caroline Garcia, Maria Sakkari, Sloane Stephens, Sofia Kenin, Veronika Kudermetova, Donna Vekic and Marketa Vondrousova) and is ranked 21st in the WTA Live rankings.

Kirstea equaled her best ranking of her career (21st place, she previously held this position in August 2013). In order to make a new jump in the ranking, the Romanians need to reach the finals of the competition in Dubai.

Semi-final – 2223 points – 21 WTA

Result – 2483 points – 15th place in WTA

Champion – 2833 points – 14 WTA.

Sorana Cîrstea, virtual track from WTA Dubai

I round: 6-3, 7-6(2) vs. Sofia Kenin

II round: 6-1, 6-4 against Veronika Kudermetova

Optimal:3-6, 6-3, 7-5 against Donna Vekic

Quarters: 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-2 against Marketa Vondrousova

Semifinal: Jasmine Paolini

Final: Iga Svyatek / Coco Gauff / Qinwen Zheng / Anna Kalinska.

The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships runs from February 18 to 24 on hard, is part of the “WTA 1000” category and has a total prize pool of $3,211,715. Simona Halep won the tournament in 2015 and 2020, and the reigning champion is Barbora Krejcikova.