PARIS, May 31 (Reuters) – Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea proved that dreams have no expiry as she beat China’s Wang Xinyu 6-3 7-6(4) at the French Open on Sunday to reach her first Roland Garros quarter-final in 17 years.
The 36-year-old, who is retiring at the end of the season, advanced to the quarter-final of a Grand Slam for just the third time in her career.
It will be her first quarter-final in the French capital since 2009 – the longest gap between the first two quarter-finals at a women’s singles major in the Open Era.
“I always thought there is no expiry date for ambition and for dreams. I have so much passion for this sport,” Cirstea said after her victory.
“I absolutely love tennis and to be able to still play at this level – have my family, my team, the closest people watching me – it’s an absolute joy.
“I think sometimes society puts us in certain groups because of the age. But I think in life, you are free to do whatever you want and I want to play. And here I am, thank you everyone for all the support.”
She could sense an opening for a shot at glory, with the bottom half of the women’s draw devoid of a Grand Slam finalist after a string of upsets including the exit of four-time champion Iga Swiatek earlier in the day.
FORM OF HER LIFE
Cirstea is in the form of her life after becoming the oldest player to break into the top 20 earlier this month.
She reached two semi-finals during the claycourt swing and shocked world number one Aryna Sabalenka in Rome.
The Romanian also became the oldest player in the Open Era to claim a 6-0 6-0 win in a Grand Slam main draw with her third-round victory over Solana Sierra.
Against Wang, Cirstea dominated the opening set, breaking twice to surge into a 5-1 lead.
With the finish line in sight in the second set for Cirstea at 5-2, Wang fought back to force a tiebreak where the Romanian found a second wind to win in 84 minutes before the pair embraced at the net.
“I think the older I got, the less pressure I put on myself. I’m trying to just play the points, not play the score and this is what’s helping me,” Cirstea added.
“I think I’m a very complete player. I can attack, I can defend, I’m way calmer on the court and I’m also enjoying (myself).
“At the end of the day, we all have a passion and my passion is tennis. I’m just so grateful for everything that’s happening.”
Cirstea will next play the winner of the match between eighth seed Mirra Andreeva and Jil Teichmann.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru;Editing by Bernadette Baum and Andrew Cawthorne)
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