Sorana Cîrstea, the world number 26, prepared for her upcoming match against Coco Gauff at Real Madrid’s legendary Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Cîrstea is set to face Gauff at the Madrid Open. She secured a victory in two sets against Tyra Caterina Grant, 6-2, 7-6 (5), to reach this stage.
Training at the Bernabeu
Leading up to the match, Cîrstea trained on a court set up inside the Santiago Bernabeu. She documented her training session with photos and a video clip.
Cîrstea’s choice of training attire, a two-piece turquoise outfit of leggings and a t-shirt, drew praise from fellow tennis player Belinda Bencic. Bencic, ranked 12th in the world, commented, “Body goals”.
Cirstea Anticipates a Difficult Match
Cîrstea spoke about her upcoming match with Gauff. “I know her quite well from a tactical point of view, and she knows me, of course,” Cîrstea said.
She added, “I know she plays a bit better on clay, so it will certainly be a difficult match. She likes the conditions here, she moves extremely well, she serves well. At the same time, we’ll see how I am. I would like to have more days of training here, to get used to the conditions.”
Gauff has won both of their previous encounters.
Looking Ahead to the Gauff Duel
The match between Cirstea and Gauff promises to be a compelling contest, with Cirstea acknowledging the challenges Gauff presents, particularly on clay.
Cirstea hopes to adapt to the conditions in Madrid to improve her chances against Gauff.