The Hard Part Starts Now for Sorana Cîrstea, Who Faces an Opponent She Has Never Beaten

Sorana Cîrstea advanced to the US Open round of 16 with a convincing 6-3, 6-3 victory over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. The Romanian now faces a much tougher test against American third seed Jessica Pegula, who has beaten her in all three previous meetings.

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I had to play aggressively against her because if you let her dominate the match, she makes your life difficult.

Pegula reached the fourth round by overcoming former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez 1-6, 6-4, 6-3. Cîrstea, ranked 17th in the world at 36, will meet the world No. 3 in their fourth career match.

Pegula won their first meeting at the 2015 ITF tournament in Midland, 6-3, 6-3. She also prevailed in the first round in Madrid in 2021, winning 7-6(5), 6-3. Their most recent match came two weeks ago in the Cincinnati round of 16, where Pegula won a tight contest 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.

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Anything is easy to say, but harder to achieve.

After beating Paolini, Cîrstea said she had needed to play aggressively because allowing Pegula to control a match makes life difficult. She said her serve and decision-making had improved, and that she was focusing on the present rather than ranking targets.

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I am ready for the match with Jessica Pegula, but she is an incredible player. She has been very consistent and maintains the same level.

“I am ready for the match with Jessica Pegula, but she is an incredible player. She has been very consistent and maintains the same level,” Cîrstea said, according to Tennis Channel. “I have my own path here and I am focusing on the match.”

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I have my own path here and I am focusing on the match.