Thieves Steal Sorana Cirstea’s Title Trophy

By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, August 31, 2025
Photo credit: Tennis in the Land Facebook

 NEW YORK—Sorana Cirstea soared in Cleveland capturing her third Tour-level championship.

Thieves crashed Cirstea’s party in New York City.

The 35-year-old Cirstea was the victim of a burglary as thieves broke into her New York hotel and stole her Cleveland title trophy.

On Instagram Stories, Cirstea reported the theft and asked the thieves to return her trophy.

“Whoever stole my Cleveland trophy from room 314 at the Fifty Sonesta, please give it back!,” Cirstea posted on Instagram Stories today. “It has NO material value, just sentimental value! It would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.”

Cirstea converted her fifth championship point defeating American Ann Li 6-2, 6-4 to capture the WTA 250 title in Cleveland.

Contesting her seventh career final, Cirstea collected her third career Tour-level championship without surrendering a set. 

The queen of Cleveland! 😍@sorana_cirstea defeats Li 6-2, 6-4 to take the title in Ohio! #TennisinTheLand pic.twitter.com/lYjAKYCoQb

— wta (@WTA) August 23, 2025

It came 17 years after the Romanian veteran won her maiden crown in Tashkent and four years after she won Istanbul.

Romanian fans serenaded Cirstea with chants of “So-Ra-Na! So-Ra-Na!” and presented her with the Romanian flag and flowers

“I came here to play some matches with absolutely zero expectations,” Cirstea said. “I want to thank my coach Adrian [Cruciat]. 

“I couldn’t ask for a better coach. Very recently, two months ago, we got back together and then straightaway we got the title… I’m very, very grateful for [the Romanians] support. This one is for you guys as well. I didn’t think there were so many Romanians in Cleveland.” 

Cirstea was the first qualifier to win the Tennis in the Land title.  Cirstea won two qualifying matches then beat Moyuka Uchijima, Jil Teichmann, Liudmila Samsonova and Anastasia Zakharova en route to her first final of the year.