WTA Cleveland 🇺🇸
Sorana Cîrstea vs Anastasia Zakharova
🧠 Form & Context
Sorana Cîrstea (No. 112, age 35)
🔥 Surging week: dropped just 12 games in 5 matches (incl. qualies).
✅ QF: d. Samsonova 6–4, 6–1.
📊 2025 record: 19–14 overall, 15–8 on hard.
🏆 Former No. 21, 2 titles, US Open QF (2023).
🛠️ Flat baseline hitting, early ball-striking, composure.
⚠️ Age/physicality: back-to-backs can wear her down.
Anastasia Zakharova (No. 100, age 23)
🚀 Breakthrough season: Top 100 debut, 16 ITF titles.
✅ Cleveland run: d. Birrell, Baptiste, Lys → 1st WTA SF of 2025.
📊 2025 record: 25–21 overall, 8–9 on hard.
🎯 Consistent rally tolerance, movement, thrives in long exchanges.
⚠️ Limited WTA pedigree; struggles vs power hitters.
Head-to-Head: First meeting
🔍 Match Breakdown
Cîrstea’s path: Keep points short, dictate baseline, lean on serve & experience.
Zakharova’s path: Extend rallies, test stamina, exploit any late dip.
Momentum: Cîrstea has yet to lose a set this week, Zakharova came through tighter battles.
🔮 Prediction
Zakharova is rising, but this stage vs an in-form, experienced Cîrstea feels too soon. Unless fatigue intervenes, expect the Romanian’s firepower to carry her through.
🧩 Pick: Cîrstea in 2 sets
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