Sorana Cîrstea, in the middle of the latest conflict in world tennis. Although victorious, her opponent refused to greet her cordially at the end
The tennis player Sorana Cîrstea (36 years old, 26 WTA) lost on Sunday, in 3 sets, score 4-6, 7-5, 6-1, at the WTA 1,000 tournament in Madrid in front of the favorite Coco Gauff (22 years, 3 WTA). The athlete from the USA also eliminated “Sori” in Miami, at the end of last month, also after a fight that ended with a decisive set.
Sorana Cîrstea did not get to enter the second week of the competition in Madrid PHOTO EPA
During the game, Sorana Cîrstea went to the chair referee Kader Nouni with the score to complain about the behavior outside the rules of those in the opponent's box.
““Come on, aggressive, forehand, backhand, first serve”. It's coaching. I hear from my side. Either I tell my team to shout from the other side, or you call the supervisor. It bothers me, he screams in my ear, I'm on my side. It's about fair play”, said Sorana Cîrstea to the chair referee, who specified that he had not heard anything and that, for this reason, he could not take any action.
The discussion with the official took place at the score of 4-3 for the Romanian, in the first set. Our athlete lost her serve immediately, in the 8th game, but managed to finish the opening leg victoriously.
At the end of the game, Coco Gauff refused to shake hands with Sorana Cîrstea. He chose a cold greeting: he held out his racket, a gesture that became familiar during the pandemic, when physical contact was avoided.
