Personal

Recently parted ways with coach Thomas Johansson
Introduced to tennis at age 4 by mother, Liliana; father's name is Mihai; younger brother's name is Mihnea; full name is Sorana Mihaela Cirstea
Speaks Romanian, English and Spanish and is studying French
Likes all surfaces; favorite shot is forehand; most admires Steffi Graf
Enjoys playing all ball sports, going shopping, watching movies, reading and doing crosswords
Favorite cities are New York and London ("big cities with lots to do")
Self-described as ambitious, stubborn and happy

Career Highlights

SINGLES
Winner (2): 2021 - Istanbul; 2008 - Tashkent.
Finalist (4): 2021 - Strasbourg; 2019 - Tashkent; 2013 - Toronto; 2007 - Budapest.

DOUBLES
Winner (5): 2019 - Lugano (w/Mitu); 2011 - Dallas (w/Brianti); 2010 - Oeiras (w/Medina Garrigues); 2008 - Fès (w/Pavlyuchenkova), Luxembourg (w/Erakovic).
Finalist (5): 2014 - Tianjin (w/Klepac); 2010 - Budapest (w/Medina Garrigues); 2009 - Barcelona (w/Klepac), Fès (w/Kirilenko); 2008 - New Haven (w/Niculescu).

ADDITIONAL
Romanian Fed Cup Team, 2006, 2008-09, 2013-14, 2017-18; Romanian Olympic Team, 2008, 2012.

Career in Review

2023 saw her best results achieved in the US. Advanced to Indian Wells QF for first time (l. Swiatek), then made SF at Miami (l. eventual champion Kvitova) and QF at US Open (l. Muchova)

In 2022, reached SF on all three surfaces: hard court at Lyon (l. Yastremska), clay at Istanbul (l. Kudermetova), and grass at Birmingham (l. Zhang). Also enjoyed success at the Australian Open, where she fell in R16 (l. Swiatek)

Highlight of 2021 was ending near-13-year wait for second WTA singles title, triumphing at Istanbul (d. Mertens in F)

Also in 2021, finished R-Up at Strasbourg (l. Krejcikova), reached QFs at Grampians Trophy and Portoroz and R16 at Roland Garros

Ended 2020 on a high, winning singles title at ITF/$100k Dubai-UAE in December (d. Siniakova in F). Also in 2020, reached 3r at US Open and advanced to 2r at Australian Open

Advanced to fourth career singles final in 2019 at Tashkent (l. Van Uytvanck) as a former champion in 2008

Captured fifth career doubles title at 2019 Lugano (w/Mitu, d. Kudermetova/Voskoboeva in F)

Other season highlights in 2019 were SF run at Nürnberg; previous appearance in last four at a WTA-level event came at the same tournament two years earlier. Also reached 3r at 2019 US Open (l. Townsend)

Ended 2018 season at No.86, after a year highlighted by clay court QF runs at Nürnberg and Bucharest

Reached R16 at 2017 Australian Open - first time advancing to that stage at a Slam since 2009 Roland Garros (QF, l. Stosur), her best Slam singles result

In 2016 played a mix of WTA and ITF events, improving ranking by 163 ranking places to No.81 in 2016 on comeback from shoulder injury, with highlights being a SF run at Rio de Janeiro (l. Rogers) and making QF at Premier Mandatory Madrid (as wildcard, l. eventual R-Up Cibulkova) and Mallorca (as qualifier, l. Jankovic)

Reached biggest singles final of career at 2013 Toronto - posted three Top 10 wins en route to final (No.10 Wozniacki, No.7 Kvitova and No.5 Li) before falling to No.1 S.Williams

Following Toronto run, posted career-high ranking of No.21 on August 21, 2013

Won only WTA singles title at 2008 Tashkent (d. Lisicki in F) having previously been R-Up at 2007 Budapest (l. Dulko)

Owns four Top 5 victories: No.5 Jankovic (2009 Roland Garros), No.5 Stosur (2012 Australian Open), No.5 Li Na (2013 Toronto) and No.4 Ka.Pliskova (2017 Beijing)

Member of Romania's Fed Cup team 2006, 2008-09, 2013-14 and 2017-18; also part of Romanian Olympic Team 2008 and 2012

Fell 1r on Grand Slam main draw debut at 2008 Australian Open (l. No.4 seed Ivanovic)

Made WTA main draw debut at 2006 Stockholm (l. Kanepi in 1r)

On ITF Circuit owns eight singles and nine doubles titles

Played first events of career on ITF Circuit in 2004