Sorana Cîrstea Advances to WTA Osaka Quarterfinals

OSAKA, Japan — Sorana Cîrstea of Romania defeated Katie Boulter of Great Britain 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, advancing to the quarterfinals of the WTA tournament in Osaka.

The 35-year-old Cîrstea, ranked 51st in the world, will face the winner of the match between Marie Bouzkova, who is ranked 41st, and Viktorija Golubic, ranked 60th. This marks Cîrstea’s fifth quarterfinal appearance this season, after similar successes in Dubai, Austin, and Cleveland.

In a stadium surrounded by modern skyscrapers, Cîrstea showcased impressive service and striking accuracy throughout her second-round match, notching her 27th victory of 2025. She won the first set in just 37 minutes, maintaining control throughout.

“Come on, come on!” Cîrstea encouraged herself before breaking out to a 4-0 lead in the second set. Though she couldn’t close out the match on her first serve, she clinched a match point with a well-placed forehand down the line.

Cîrstea successfully converted 6 out of 7 break points during the match against Boulter. “I’m very happy to reach the quarterfinals in Osaka,” she said. “I played solidly, and I’m pleased with my performance. The secret to my longevity is enjoying what I do. I love tennis, or I wouldn’t be here.”

Looking ahead, Cîrstea indicated her plan is to maintain an aggressive playing style and keep control in her next matchup. “I’ll focus on not giving my opponents time to set up their shots, and I aim to deliver a strong performance on Friday,” she stated.

The tournament in Osaka is played on hard courts and features a total prize pool of $275,094. The winner will receive $36,300, which is a 3% increase from last year’s tournament.