Australian Open 2026 draw. Sorana Cîrstea is the only tricolor that avoids a seed in the first round
Three Romanians are on the main draw in Melbourne, of which two are in shape. Jaqueline Cristian (27 years old, 37 WTA), Sorana Cîrstea (35 WTA, 41 WTA) and Gabriela Ruse (28 years old, 76 WTA). The first two are in a sporty shape that gives them hope that they can go a few laps.
Sorana, for the last time in her career in Melbourne as a player PHOTO EPA
The draw for the Australian Open 2026, this morning, was not at all friendly to the players from Romania. Sorana Cîrstea, Jaqueline Cristian and Gabriela Ruse have found out their opponents in the first round, and two of them will go directly into the shootout against some of the top seeds.
Sorana Cîrstea is the only Romanian who avoids a seed in the inaugural round, but even for her the draw cannot be considered favorable. Our veteran will play in the first round with Eva Lys, the 39th WTA player, a player on the rise.
The German is going through the best period of her career and already has a solid precedent in Melbourne, where last year she reached the eighth, coming from the position of lucky loser, after she had also eliminated Jaqueline Cristian. Her path then stopped in front of Iga Swiatek.
Sorana comes to the Australian Open after withdrawing from Adelaide, where she decided not to continue the competition due to medical reasons. If she gets past Eva Lys, Cîrstea could have an extremely complicated duel in the second round, most likely with Naomi Osaka, who plays in the first round against the Croatian Antonia Ruzic.
Hard mission for Cristian
The hardest mission in the first round, however, falls to Jaquelina Cristian. The Romanian will face Karolina Muchova, former world number 8 and current WTA 19th place holder, top seed at this edition.
The direct balance is categorically in favor of the Czech, who prevailed in all three previous matches without losing a single set. Moreover, Cristian won only 12 games in these matches, which makes Muchova the clear favorite.
Jaqueline comes after a third round at the previous edition of the Australian Open, where she was eliminated even by Eva Lys. In the case of a surprise result with Muchova, the Romanian would play in the second round with the winner of the match between Alycia Parks and Alexandra Eala, and in the third round she could meet another favorite, Emma Navarro.
Ruse has the head-to-head advantage
Gabriela Ruse will also have a complicated debut, going to face Dayana Yastremska, seeded and occupying the 26th place in the WTA. Interestingly, although the Ukrainian is the favorite on paper, Ruse has won both head-to-head duels played so far.
The two met on clay, in Hamburg, in 2021, and in the US Open 2023 qualifiers, and the Romanian prevailed each time. That track record gives reason for optimism ahead of the duel in Melbourne.
If she manages to eliminate Yastremska, Gabriela Ruse will play Alja Tomljanovic or a player from the qualifiers in the second round, and in the third round she could face Mirra Andreeva.
