Sorana Cîrstea, defeated in the first round at Madrid after a two -and -a -half -hour fight in front of the world number 88

Sorana Cîrstea first went into action in Madrid between the three Romanians on the main panel. The double quarterfinalist in the WTA 1000, 2016 and 2017 competition used its protected ranking to enter the grid and join Irina Begu and Jaqueline Cristian.

Located on the 122nd place, after updating the ranking following the end of the Stuttgart tournament, the 35-year-old Romanian player faced American Hailey Baptiste for the first time.

Sorana had a slow start start or, rather, her opponent sprinted alert until 3-0, then 4-1. Baptiste, who played only two games on the slag, the green one from Charleston, had a response to the intention of “tricolor” to dictate the game and to come in front to complete.

Inaugural set dominated by Hailey Baptiste

The American has always had prepared passing-shots and lobes, managing to overcome Cîrstea. And Baptiste's defensive replica was surprising, reaching some balls that seemed impossible to reach.

The first act was paraphrased with one more American break, 6-2in the third match scheduled at Arantxa Sanchez Vicario Arena, the second as enlargement from Caja Magica.

Frances Tiafoe with his coach, David Witt, was in Baptiste's lodge. The American player and Hailey went to the same school, and Frances, four years old, took care of her. “His family is practical, and my family,” she said recently. All the more so as this year he works with Frances's twin brother, Franklin.

Frances Tiafoe and David Witt Watching Hailey Baptiste's Match vs Sorna Cirstea pic.twitter.com/w5swbfvrua

– Islandtennisgirl (@islandtennisace) April 22, 2025

Sorana Cîrstea snatched the second set to battle

Assisted by the coach Sven Groeneveld and the physiotherapist Andrei Cristofor, Sorana started the second act much better and took her game with more stability. The balance governed a set in which the break balls were missing, both players securing their service.

Until 5-5, when Cîrstea started the game with an aggressive attack point, then climbed 40-0 and snatched the break with a return to the opponent's body coming near the net. Playing more and more precisely, Sorana sent the match decisively with a 7-5 in which the experience and choice of blows counted decisively, coupled and a weaker yield to the American service.

Defeat in the thie-break of set 3 for Cîrstea

The decisive act was a passionate one, with two shifts of breaks and many spectacular moments. As closely everything was, only a tie-break could decide the winner. And it was a painful one for Sorana, who lost contact with Baptis after a double mistake and could not return. The American player won 7-4 in the decisive game.

Cîrstea arrived last year until the third round in Madrid, where he gave in front of the future champion and WTA leader at the time, IGA Swiak.

Sticking it out & reaping the rewards 💪

Hailey Baptiste Stops a Cirstea Comeback!
#Mmopen pic.twitter.com/bvvtvjnslf

– WTA (@wta) April 22, 2025

Another Romanian player present on the painting, Irina Beguthree times quarterfinalist in Madrid (2015, 2016, 2023), was to meet the Ukrainina Kalinina in the inaugural round. However, this has been withdrawn, before the party schedule, and Irina will now have an opponent of qualifications or Lucky Loser, the French Diane Parry (22 years old, 115th place). The two were spread once more, in 2022, also on the slag, in the “quarters” of the WTA 250 tourmo, Begu winning 6-1, 6-3.

Jaqueline Cristianwhich last year achieved its best performance at Caja Magica, the third tour, will start against the British Sonay Kartal.