LIVE. Sorana Cîrstea – Coco Gauff, in the 3rd round in Madrid

Sorana Cîrstea is our only representative left in the competition from the capital of Spain, after Irina Begu, Gabriela Ruse and Jaqueline Cristian were eliminated.

It will be the third meeting between the two, the previous ones being won by the American, each time in three sets. The first direct match was played in the 2nd round at the Australian Open 2020, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, the second is much more recently, from this year, in the “eights” in Miami, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

LIVE » Sorana Cîrstea – Coco Gauff 6-4, 5-7, 0-1

Set 3:

• 0-1. Gauff continues the good form shown in the last sequences of the second set, especially after the medical time-out, and wins the first game of the decider

Set 2:

• 5-7. SET Gauff! Despite all the medical problems, Gauff wins and sends this match to the decider

• 5-6. Gauff is back in front, Sorana forced to win to send the set into a tiebreak

• 5-5. Sorana takes her serve and equalises, the second set goes into overtime

• 4-5. Gauff takes over immediately after the medical time-out. Follow Sorana at work to stay on set

• 4-4. Even this time Sorana does not keep his break and Gauff equalizes once more. The American is not feeling well and needs care. The tournament doctor is also called

• 4-3. Sorana, excellent point at the end of the game! A new break for the Romanian in the game with Gauff

• 3-3. Gauff does not give in and equalizes again. Balanced end of the set in Madrid

• 3-2. Gauff ends the game with a double fault, which Sorana takes advantage of to make another break and has another chance to break away

• 2-2. Sorana can't hold her break and it's tied

• 2-1. Gauff wins on his own serve for the best game so far in the match

• 2-0. Our player plays a fabulous match and breaks away at the start of the second set, while Gauff gets more and more nervous

• 1-0. Sorana is magical and plays perfectly in the second set as well. Break from the first range

Set 1:

• 6-4. SET Sorana! The Romanian is magical and wins the first set against Gauff

• 5-4. Another break for Sorana, which will serve for the set

• 4-4. Draw in Madrid. Gauff returns with two consecutive games

• 4-3. Gauff saved several break points and remains in the game. However, Sorana has the chance, on her own serve, to break free again

• 4-2. Cîrstea confirms the break and breaks away in the first set

• 3-2. The series of breaks continues, Sorana wins again on the opponent's serve and moves forward

• 2-2. Sorana fails to confirm the break, and Gauff equalizes after an authoritatively dominated game

• 2-1. Gauff starts better, but Sorana comes back and breaks, now leading the game

• 1-1. Sorana wins her first game of the match and restores the tie

• 0-1. Gauff gets off to a perfect start on serve and wins the first game of the match

• Start of the game in Madrid, at the Central Manolo Santana arena! Coco Gauff serves first

Sorana got off to an ideal start in Madrid, winning in straight sets against Tyra Caterina Grant, 6-2, 7-6 (5), at the end of a match that lasted just under an hour and a half. On the other side, Gauff easily passed Leolia Jeanjean, score 6-3, 6-0.

In the last participation of his career, in Madrid, Sorana will have a much more difficult test on Sunday, in front of Cori Gauff, who will play for the fifth time in a row in the 3rd round of the Caja Magica, a tournament where he reached the final last year.

It's a complicated match! I had a lot of chances to win that match. I know her pretty well tactically, and she knows me, normally. I know he plays a bit better on clay so it will be a tough match for sure.

He likes the conditions here, moves extremely well, serves well. At the same time, we will see how I will be. I wish I had more training days here, to get used to the conditions

– Sorana Cîrstea, for GSP.ro, before the match with Gauff