Aryna Sabalenka crashes out of Miami Open to Sorana Cirstea, Romanian advances to semi-finals

Aryna Sabalenka crashed out of the Miami Open in the quarter-finals losing in straight sets to Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-4. Playing in only her second Miami quarter-final, three double faults from Sabalenka at crucial moments in the first and second sets proved decisive, while the unseeded Romanian produced a highly composed display to progress to the last four. Ad Cirstea, who had never beaten a top-three player in her career until Wednesday, will play either No.

18 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova or No. 15 seed Petra Kvitova in the semi-finals. WTA MiamiSabalenka hails 'amazing performance' as she downs Krejcikova, Andreescu pulls outYESTERDAY AT 07:46 «I think I'm a bit speechless,» Cirstea said in her on-court interview after the match.

«I came out knowing it was going to be a really tough match. Aryna hits so hard so I knew I had to hold my ground and I'm very happy with my performance today. It's a bit unexpected to be honest! »I guess people like to talk about the age, the years, the results, but I never do that.

I just mind my own business. I just work hard, do my thing, believe in my game, work with my coach Thomas Johansson who I just started working with in December and I think it's going great. «I'm not defined by numbers, I'm just trying to keep my head down and work hard.» Cirstea got off to the ideal start in the pair's first-ever meeting on the WTA tour, breaking the Sabalenka serve in the very first game.