Sorana Cirstea continues giant-killing run at Rogers Cup, faces Williams in final

Romania’s Sorana Cirstea continued her impressive run at the Rogers Cup in Toronto by reaching the Premier event’s final for the first after she eliminated China’s Li Na 61 76(5). On paper, Li Na was the favorite to win the event since she won four of their past five meetings but Cirstea had other ideas, blitzing to a 6-1 first set.

The second set was more dramatic as the Chinese star threatened to force a third set after leading 5-2 but Cirstea regrouped just in time to break back in the match and secured the victory via a tiebreaker.

“I think I came on the court with a really good mentality today,” Cirstea said after the match. “I was very focused from the start, and even when she started to push me in the second set, I was still playing quite well, except those two match points at 6-5, of course, when I think I got a little bit tight.

“I’m happy with how I fought in the end and I’m really happy to finish the match in two sets.”

This is Cirstea’s third career WTA final and she’s gunning for a second title with her lone title coming from an International event in Tashkent five years ago.

“I’m not thinking so much of what was in the past now – I’m just thinking of what’s coming,” Cirstea said. “Every single match this week is a new match. It doesn’t matter who I beat the day before or what I’ve done. It’s another day where I have to get out there and show the work that I’ve been putting in.

“I’m really excited, because these are the moments you’re working for.”

Cirstea will have a tougher assignment ahead of her as she faces top-ranked and two-time champion Serena Williams in the final.