Sorana Kirstea has made a sensational comeback to reach the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 in Dubai, a stage of the competition where she will face a surprise opponent.

>> Sorana Kirstea, first reaction after her return to career and qualification for the WTA Dubai semi-finals

Sorana Kirstea vs Jasmine Paolini in the WTA Dubai semi-finals

After victory with Marketa Vondrousova (she saved six match points and came back from 2-6, 1-5 down), Sorana now faces Jasmine Paolini after the Italian won with removal of Kazakh Elena Rybakina (favorite 4).

Paolini was ranked 26th at the start of the competition (highest was 24th).defeated three big names in the women’s tournament in Dubai: Beatrice Haddad Maia (11th favorite), Leila Fernandez (US Open 2021 finalist) and Maria Sakkari (8th favorite).

The presence in the semifinals of the tournament in the United Arab Emirates is Jasmine’s best result in the “WTA 1000” competition. The last player to achieve this feat after 28 years was Camila Giorgi (Montreal, 2021).

The Italian won her only WTA title in Portorož, Slovenia in 2021 when she beat Sorana Kirstea in the quarters 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. Jasmine played in three more finals: Cluj-Napoca (2022), Palermo and Monastir (2023).

Sorana and Jasmine also met in the first round of Roland Garros-2023, and the Italian won: 7-5, 2-6, 6-2.

1. After Olena Rybakina’s exit, Jasmine Paolini became the first player to reach her first WTA-1000 semi-final after the age of 28 since compatriot Camila Giorgi at Montreal 2021. Unlocked.#DFTennis | @DDFTennis @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/S54sbA1Rya

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) February 22, 2024

What you need to know before the match between Sorana Kirstea and Jasmine Paolini

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

• 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.