Miami OpenAryna Sabalenka crashes out after shock defeat to Sorana Cirstea in quarters

By Sabyasachi ChowdhuryWorld No.2 Aryna Sabalenka crashed out of the Miami Open 2023 after losing to Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the quarterfinal of the women’s singles. World No.74 Cirstea won the match 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 25 minutes to make her way through to her first WTA 1000 semis in more than a decade.

The last time she advanced beyond the quarters was when she finished as the runner-up in Toronto after losing to Serena Williams in 2013. Cirstea earned a break of serve in the first game of each set, but Sabalenka, who has lost only two matches in 2023, hit back.

From being 15-40 down, Cirstea served out the match. That Sabalenka made 21 unforced errors didn’t help her by any means. Both players nailed seven aces, but Sabalenka let herself down with six double faults compared to Cirstea’s two.

“I think I’m a bit speechless. I came out knowing that it’s going to be a really tough match. Aryna hits so hard, so I knew I had to hold my ground, and I’m very, very happy with my performance today,” Cirstea said after the match.

Cirstea will next be up against the winner of the quarterfinal between Ekaterina Alexandrova and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.

In the men’s singles, Jannik Sinner defeated Emil Ruusuvouri 6-3, 6-1 in the quarterfinal. Sinner won 92 percent of his first serve and although he wasn’t at his best with his second serves, he came up trumps. Sinner won the match in an hour and 15 minutes.

Ruusuvouri was found wanting with his second serves as he won only 32 percent of his points through them. Sinner also dominated because of the fact that he earned four breaks of serves compared to his opponent’s nil.

The match was delayed by two hours due to rain, but Sinner didn’t lose his concentration because of that. Sinner also won his fifth match against Ruusuvouri on the head-to-head count.