Cîrstea and Kalinskaya Win Dramatic Madrid Open Doubles Title

Madrid, Spain – Sorana Cîrstea and Anna Kalinskaya captured the doubles title at the Mutua Madrid Open on Sunday after a thrilling final against Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudermetova, winning 6-7 (10), 6-2, 12-10.

This victory marks Cîrstea’s first title in over four years, her last being in Istanbul in April 2021. After being ousted in the first round of singles, Cîrstea excelled in the doubles competition alongside Kalinskaya, defeating top-seeded teams on their way to the final.

Entering the final match, Cîrstea and Kalinskaya appeared relaxed and cheerful. They made the first break of the match and seemed to control the opening set until Mertens and Kudermetova fought back, forcing a tie-break which they ultimately won 7-6 (10).

After Kalinskaya sustained a minor injury during the tie-break, Cîrstea advocated for her partner’s well-being, telling the chair umpire that a medical time-out was necessary after Kalinskaya’s fall. The Belgian-Russian pair initially took advantage of the situation, winning the first two games of the second set.

A call from the crowd, “Sorana, the match is not over!” seemed to inspire Cîrstea and Kalinskaya, leading them to win six consecutive games in the second set, finishing with a score of 6-2 and sending the match into the super tie-break.

Mertens and Kudermetova took an early lead in the tie-break, going up 6-3. However, Cîrstea and Kalinskaya displayed remarkable resilience, fighting off a match point and turning the tide to clinch the final set 12-10, sealing their victory after two hours and 17 minutes of play.

During the trophy presentation, Cîrstea expressed her gratitude in both Spanish and English, thanking Kalinskaya and acknowledging the unexpectedness of their win. “Thank you for this amazing week,” she said, highlighting the joy she felt in sharing the title with her new friend. Kalinskaya also shared emotional remarks, praising Cîrstea and celebrating their journey together during the tournament.

The champions received their trophy from tournament director Feliciano Lopez, marking a significant moment in the careers of both players as they celebrated a hard-fought victory at one of the most prestigious events in the tennis calendar.