Article by David Istrate – Published on Tuesday, 03 February 2026 21:47 / Updated on Tuesday, 03 February 2026 21:52
After the unexpected defeat of Gabriela Ruse, which disappointed the Cluj audience, Jaqueline Cristian, a player ranked 35th in the world ranking, entered the central court of BTarena.
Jaqueline Cristian: “It was a continuous battle, a very high level of tennis”
The 27-year-old athlete made a strong start to the confrontation with Lucrezia Stefanini, a tennis player coming from the qualifications, and won her inaugural act 6-2. The Italian recovered in the second set, served and returned excellently and answered with a set won also 6-2.
In the decisive sequence, the two athletes offered an honest fight, with many shots close to the line, with long exchanges and twists and turns. Cheered on by fans chanting her name after every point, Jaqueline broke at 5-5 and then closed out the match: 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 in two hours and 20 minutes.
“It was a very tough match. It's never easy to start the tournament at home. Although I started the match very well, she raised her level extremely much and I made small mistakes, nothing extraordinary. She played her chance. Sure, I got her into the match, but after that it was all mental. And that's why I'm most proud of today's match, because it was a continuous fight, a very high level of tennis, a very physical match, in which I managed to stay very well. I am very happy and confident for tomorrow”, Cristian declared at the press conference.
The world number 35 spoke about how she managed the roller coaster of emotions and thoughts that flooded her during the most important points of the match.
“Well exactly like that, with every point,” Jaqueline replied. “I was trying to reset after each point, not to play the score, but to focus only on myself, the ball and the things I had to do: stay positive and believe in myself until the last point“, she continued.
Jaqueline Cristian, at the press conference/Photo: David Istrate (GSP.ro)
Jaqueline Cristian: “I really missed playing in front of the Cluj crowd”
Cristian explained that the chants of the fans brought her a lot of energy, helped her forget about the fatigue and the tension of the score and gave her a boost of confidence:
“The crowd mattered a lot because they pushed me a lot and made me believe and stay there, play with my heart. That was honestly the feeling I had on the field today.”
In the eighths of the Transylvania Open, Jaqueline Cristian will meet Daria Snigur (23 years old, 144 WTA)who beat Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah (20 years old, 116 WTA) 6-3, 6-3.
“I know, I know, I haven't seen her for a while, to be honest, but I know who it is. Of course, I have to talk to the team and prepare the match very well. First of all, I have to recover physically by tomorrow and do my best to be at 100%. Next, the focus is on me,” concluded the Romanian.
I really missed playing in front of the Cluj crowd, playing on that field. I felt at home. And I said to myself: “Okay, you're on the field, you have to take advantage of the crowd's energy because last year you couldn't and you missed this thing.”
I tried to keep that balance, not to invest too much and not have things come off. I really enjoyed the balls I lost, if there was a fight and I raised the crowd and saw that it was there for me. The fans gave me courage and kept me positive
– Jaqueline Cristian
Jaqueline Cristian/Photo: Imago Images
