Romania, very good results at Roland Garros and in the junior competition! 3 “tricolors” qualified in the 2nd round
Article by David Istrate – Published on Sunday, 31 May 2026 21:32 / Updated on Sunday, 31 May 2026 21:45
Sorana Cîrstea (36 years old, 18 WTA) was not the only player from Romania who performed on Sunday, May 31, at Roland Garros. Four juniors from our country debuted on the main draw of the junior competition, and three of them qualified for the second round.
It was a full day for tennis lovers in Romania, who watched Sorana Cîrstea qualify for the quarterfinals of Roland Garros and were able to see four juniors at work in the competition dedicated to them.
Matei Todoran, Giulia Safina Popa and Maia Ilinca Burcescu qualified for the 2nd round at Roland Garros
Matei Todoran (18 years old, 1843 ATP) he had a difficult duel with the Frenchman Timeo Trufelli (18 years, 1227 ATP), which lasted two hours and 46 minutes. In the end, the Romanian prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) and qualified for the second round.
Next, Todoran will play Germany's Jamie Mackenzie, world number 914 and the number 3 favorite for the title. In the opening round, he got past Safir Azam 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Matei Victor Chelementhe second Romanian present in the boys' competition, was defeated in one hour and 47 minutes by Kuan Shou Chen, after two very balanced sets: 4-6, 6-7 (3).
So, Chelemen was eliminated from Roland Garros, while the tennis player from Taipei will play in the second round with the Indian Arnav Paparkar (18 years old, 1629 ATP).
Also present in Paris is Yannick Theodor Alexandrescou (18 years old, 952 ATP), Romanian player who decided to represent France in international competitions. The number 2 favorite for the title won 6-2, 6-3 against Damir Zhalgasbay and will play Uzbek Nikita Belozertsev (17 years, 786 ATP) in the 2nd round.
Moving on to the women's competition, Giulia Safina Popa (16 years old, 777 WTA) easily defeated American Sarah Ye, 6-1, 6-1, in 50 minutes. She got rid of Ksenia Efremova (17 years old, 623 WTA), the number 1 favorite for the title and the highest ranked junior in the world.
The Frenchwoman defeated by Sorana Cîrstea in the 1st round of the senior competition lost in round 1 and in the girls competition. She was defeated 6-3, 6-3 by Ekaterina Dotsenko, Giulia Safina's next opponent.
Maia Ilinca Burcescu (16 years old, 859 WTA) she also achieved a victory in the 1st round of Roland Garros, beating Thea Frodin (17 years, 632 WTA) 6-1, 6-3. In the second round, she will meet Anna Pushkareva, ranked 1006 in the world, who won 6-3, 6-0 against Lea Nilsson (17 years old, 609 WTA).
