Cirstea beats Sabalenka at Miami; night matches rained out
March 30, 2023 GMTMIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Sorana Cirstea advanced to her first semifinal of a WTA 1000 event in a decade, beating Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-4 at the Miami Open on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old Cirstea beat the highest-ranked opponent of her career by knocking off the second-ranked Sabalenka.
Kontaveit, Krejcikova advance to Prague Open 2nd round
July 26, 2022 GMTPRAGUE (AP) — Top-seeded Anett Kontaveit of Estonia cruised past Ekaterine Gorgodze 6-0, 6-1 to advance to the second round of the Prague Open on Tuesday.
The world No. 2, who reached the Hamburg European Open final last week, needed just 48 minutes to beat Gorgodze and set up a match against Lucie Havlickova, who defeated Barbora Palicova 6-2, 7-6 (5) in an all-Czech match at the outdoor hardcourt tournament.
Haddad Maia wins in Birmingham for 2nd straight WTA title
June 19, 2022 GMTBIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil secured back-to-back WTA titles after Chinese opponent Shuai Zhang retired with an injury trailing 5-4 in the first set of the Birmingham Classic final on Sunday.
Defending champ Cirstea reaches semis in Istanbul
April 22, 2022 GMTISTANBUL (AP) — Defending champion Sorana Cirstea advanced to the semifinals at the clay-court Istanbul Championship by defeating Julia Grabher of Austria 7-5, 6-1 on Friday.
The Romanian last year ended a 13-year wait for her second career singles title when she upset Elise Mertens in the final.
Mertens retires from match in Istanbul due to leg injury
April 20, 2022 GMTISTANBUL (AP) — Top-seeded Elise Mertens retired from her opening match at the clay-court Istanbul Championship on Wednesday because of a leg injury.
The 26-year-old Belgian was losing 7-5, 4-1 to Sweden's Rebecca Peterson when she retired with pain in her right leg.
Sorana Cirstea wins to open title defense in Istanbul
April 19, 2022 GMTISTANBUL (AP) — Defending champion Sorana Cirstea won her opening match at the Istanbul Championship, beating Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia 6-4, 6-1 on Tuesday.
The 32-year-old Romanian ended a 13-year wait for her second career singles title last year when she upset Elise Mertens in the final.
Ukrainian refugee Yastremska falls just short in Lyon final
March 6, 2022 GMTLYON, France (AP) — Ukrainian refugee Dayana Yastremska took Zhang Shuai to three sets Sunday in the final of the Lyon Open that the Chinese player eventually won 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The 21-year-old Yastremska only fled her home in war-torn Odessa, Ukraine, last week following the Russian invasion.
Riske beats Cristian in Linz for her 3rd WTA title
November 12, 2021 GMTLINZ, Austria (AP) — Alison Riske rallied to beat Jaqueline Cristian of Romania 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the final of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz on Friday for the American's third career title.
It was the 73rd-ranked Riske's first tournament win since recovering from foot injuries last year that kept her out of competition for nine months.
Badosa, Kontaveit, Potapova reach Ostrava Open 2nd round
September 20, 2021 GMTOSTRAVA, Czech Republic (AP) — Paula Badosa eased past Varvara Gracheva of Russia 6-2, 6-2 and into the second round of the Ostrava Open on Monday.
The ninth-seeded Spaniard next faces Anett Kontaveit of Estonia who eliminated Sorana Cirstea of Romania 6-4, 6-4.
Britain’s Raducanu, 18, joins Gauff, 17, in Wimbledon Week 2
July 3, 2021 GMTWIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Here’s how hushed the crowd at No. 1 Court was before points Saturday: You could hear Emma Raducanu’s palm slap her thigh while she waited to receive serves.
Muguruza, Azarenka win opening matches at German Open
June 15, 2021 GMTBERLIN (AP) — Former Grand Slam champions Garbine Muguruza, Victoria Azarenka and Angelique Kerber were among the winners in the first round of the German Open on Tuesday.
Muguruza saved both of the break points she faced in a 6-3, 6-2 win over Sorana Cirstea.
Li, Wozniacki, Kerber advance at Eastbourne
June 18, 2013 GMTEASTBOURNE, England (AP) — Li Na advanced to the second round at Eastbourne on Tuesday, beating Alize Cornet of France 6-2, 6-4.
She'll next play 2011 champion Marion Bartoli. Play was suspended at 3-2 in the second set when a spectator collapsed in the stands.