“Probably I’m playing the best tennis of my life” – Why Sorana Cirstea is thriving under new coach Thomas Johansson

Entering 2023, Sorana Cirstea had just five top 5 wins to her name – and none since 2017. What a difference a few months can make, however… In March alone the 32-year-old has scored three top 5 wins, including the biggest win of her career on Wednesday at the Miami Open, against No 2-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.

After reaching her first WTA 1000 semi-final in nearly ten years, the current world No 74 sits just on the edge of the top 40 in the live rankings – not bad for a player that was outside of the top 80 when Indian Wells began…

New coach, new plan, new outlook

It has been a meteoric resurgence for the former world No 21, and she credits much of her rise to a blossoming relationship with coach Thomas Johansson. Cirstea linked up with the former Australian Open champion and coach of David Goffin and Maria Sakkari, in October, and even though the pairing didn’t pay earlier dividends, she is most certainly thriving now.

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“I feel ecstatic, mostly for the work that I’ve been doing lately because I really worked very, very hard since October, since I started with Thomas Johansson,” Cirstea told Tennis Channel after her 6-4 6-4 victory over Sabalenka.

“It’s been plenty of work, on the court and off the court, and there were a few months there, Australia and in the Middle East, where results were not really coming. So you start to have some doubts, but now I think I am at peace now that I know everything that we are working on is working and I am finding my game and I’m very happy about this result.”

Consistency and patience have helped Cirstea, who shut down her 2022 season early due to a shoulder injury, turn around her fortunes.

“I think I’ve always had the game,” she says. “I was an aggressive player, I was always dangerous but now and then I could be a bit erratic and against the top players you are not allowed to do that. You have to be from the beginning to the end, very solid, very aggressive, very put together. You’re not allowed to go away even for one game, because that can be the match.  

“Definitely I think I found my peace of mind and of course the results give me confidence and I’m a bit more quiet on the court, but at the same time I’m fighting as hard as I can.”

Cirstea on Johansson – “He’s great at reading the game”

Power and aggression have always been the Romanian’s calling card, but at the age of 32 she is diversifying into tactical nuance. She’s varying her strokes, and using more of her toolbox than ever before.

“I think he’s great at reading the game, so he really is trying to teach me a bit more tennis IQ,” Cirstea says, then elaborates: “meaning, to see my position in the court, to see my opponent’s position to try to have a better shot selection, to try a little bit on this aggressive game, to come in with a slice now and then, to come in with a high ball, a bit of variety and just to be a more complete player.”

I’m playing well, I think probably I’m playing the best tennis of my life. I’m in a good place in my life also personally. So things are coming together and I’ve said it many times: I’m not defined by numbers. I love what I do, and as long as I will enjoy and have results I’ll be here.

— Sorana Cirstea

Plan A first, but now a Plan B

Plan A used to be the only plan for Cirstea, now she’s got trust that she can survive, even without it.

“Like I said, I was always dangerous, but I had [plan] A and that was it,” she says. “Now I feel I can have a good [plan] B instead, in case [Plan] A is not there that day. So definitely it’s been a lot of improvements and I’m very happy with the way things are going.”

“I’ve been waiting for these results for a while and finally they are coming”

Asked to explain her emotions after finishing off Sabalenka on Wednesday, Cirstea used one word: “relief”. After working so hard and being so committed to evolving her game, and recognizing her improvements on the practice court, she’s thrilled to see it carry over to the match court in the form of a groundbreaking result.

Cirstea had not reached the last four of a WTA 1000 event since 2013 in Toronto. It has been a long, long while.

“I think at the end I was a bit relieved – I think that’s the word: relieved – because I’ve been waiting for these results for a while and finally they are coming, so I’m just like (lets out a big sigh),” Cirstea said, adding:

“I’m very fit, I’m playing well, I think probably I’m playing the best tennis of my life. I’m in a good place in my life also personally. So things are coming together and I’ve said it many times: I’m not defined by numbers. I love what I do, and as long as I will enjoy and have results I’ll be here.” 

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