Begu vs Cristian

🇷🇴 WTA Iasi – Semifinal

Irina-Camelia Begu vs Jaqueline Cristian

🧠 Form & Context

Irina-Camelia Begu
At 34, Begu continues to defy the odds on the WTA Tour. This is her first semifinal of 2025, and it comes on home soil, where she always brings out her best tennis. She entered Iasi with a modest 9–12 record for the year but has now reeled off three wins—two of them gritty three-setters over Siskova and Jimenez Kasintseva.

Begu was a finalist here in 2023, and the local crowd continues to be a major source of energy for her. However, fitness is a concern—she’s spent significant time on court and may be physically taxed heading into this semifinal.

Jaqueline Cristian
Cristian is having a career-best season, and she arrives at this stage with strong momentum. With a 24–15 overall record and two WTA finals under her belt in 2025 (Rabat, Puerto Vallarta), she’s developed greater consistency, especially on clay.

Cristian is now 12–5 on clay this season and has won nine straight matches on the surface against players outside the top 30. She also pushed Swiatek hard at Roland Garros, showing her growing confidence against elite opposition.

The H2H is tied 1–1, but their last clay meeting came back in 2019—Cristian is a very different player now.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This all-Romanian semifinal is both a homecoming and a clash of generations.

Begu’s style is built on patience, looping topspin, and deep point construction—perfect for clay, but physically demanding. After back-to-back three-setters, her legs may not hold up if this becomes another grind.

Cristian’s approach is more proactive. She hits flatter, takes the ball earlier, and has cleaned up the error rate that plagued her earlier in her career. Her improved serve placement and depth control have also helped her dominate in key return games.

Begu will have the crowd, but Cristian enters the match sharper, more consistent, and physically fresher. If she can apply early pressure and keep Begu moving laterally, she may be able to edge the veteran out over time.

🔮 Prediction

Begu’s experience and home advantage make her dangerous, especially if she gets ahead early. But Cristian has shown more stability this season, and with fresher legs and better recent form, she holds the slight upper hand.

Prediction: Cristian in 3 sets. Begu may take a lead with crowd momentum, but Cristian’s balance of aggression and fitness should ultimately see her through.