Article by Marius Mărgărit – Published on Tuesday, 12 May 2026 21:09 / Updated on Tuesday, 12 May 2026 21:09
After the extraordinary performance in Rome, qualification to the semi-finals of the tournament after a clear victory against Jelena OstapenkoGSP spoke with Sorana Cîrstea's first coach, Sorin Erlic (70 years old), just as it happened 3 years ago, after another exceptional result, when Sorana Cîrstea reached the semifinals of the WTA Miami 1000 tournament, where she lost to Kvitova.
The discussion from that time took place in Târgoviște, before the match with the Czech, but after a great victory in the “quarters”, when Sorana eliminated Sabalenka, then world number 2, newly victorious at the Australian Open. And the coach said since then that Sorana “has the weapons to win a Grand Slam”.
Retired from activity for about 4-5 years, Sorin Erlic has time to watch all the matches of his former student, whom he took over, from the beginning, when he was only 6 years old.
And the results would appear very quickly, not just at the national level. With Erlic as coach, Sorana won her first international title at age 8, in Rouen, France, playing against opponents two years older.
“I had emotions, but I knew she could turn Ostapenko and beat her 2-0”
After the win with Ostapenko, Sorin Erlic spoke again with GSP and admitted that “I had some emotions in the second set. But the way Sorana has played in the last few months, I really thought she could turn Ospapenko in the second set as well, when she was leading 4-2, 5-3.
More emotions were with Sabalenka. But it was also difficult with Ostapenko, because the Latvian is known to hit all the balls hard. I was a little afraid that it wouldn't fit too much. But it has no constancy, and in this chapter Sorana has grown a lot.
You can feel her added experience, she manages the important moments well, plus I notice that she is very well prepared physically. She held her own in the exchanges with Ostapenko and that definitely gave her a lot of confidence throughout the game. Even when she was being driven.”
“He leveled up in all chapters, he has no weaknesses”
Analyzing Sorana Cîrstea's game, Sorin Erlic says that “from what I saw, she made great progress on the first serve. It's a weapon. And the second serve has more effect, it's not a very easy prey even for strong players, like Sabalenka or Ostapenko.
Then, very importantly, I notice that he has improved his movement in the field, he reaches balls that he used to miss or give up. Plus he doesn't comment anymore, he doesn't argue anymore, he sees the game, he gets over difficult moments more easily. And he doesn't make so many mistakes anymore.
Yes, he has progressed in almost all chapters, it cannot be said that he has a weak point. And she is capable of anything. Maybe all this comes from this relaxation, that she announced that this is her last year in the circuit. But the way he's playing, he might change his mind. Because now he is in a form where he can do anything.
I say this not because he won and made important results in the last few months, but from watching him play. In tennis it's hard to make predictions, everything depends on the day, on the opponent, but the way Sorana looks now, I think it's also possible to win the tournament in Rome.
And I expect a very long journey and at Roland Garros. Because she feels, it can be seen, that she has confidence, she is liberated, the game is going well for her, she is at the highest levels in all parameters, physically, technically and mentally”.
Sorana Cîrstea equaled her best ranking in her career
After the emphatic victory against Jelena Ostapenko, Sorana equaled her career-best ranking of 21st WTA. In case of a qualification in the final of the tournament in Rome, our player will climb to the 18th place in the world!
It is also in 10th place in the race for the Tournament of Champions, a short distance from 8th place, the last one that ensures qualification for the year-end competition.
