Russian qualifier Alexandra Shubladze caused one of the biggest upsets at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open on Friday (Nov. 6), defeating top seed Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 6-3 to advance to the women's singles semifinals.
The victory over the world No. 15 marked another major step in the 21-year-old's impressive run in HK. Ranked 136th in the WTA singles rankings, Shubladze had secured her main-draw place by winning two qualifying matches before overcoming the tournament's top seed in the quarterfinals.
Cirstea, 36, struggled to find her rhythm against the Russian, who took the opening set 6-2 after racing to a 4-0 lead. The Romanian had five opportunities to break Shubladze's serve in the first set but failed to convert any of them.
The second set initially followed a similar pattern. Cirstea missed a break point in the second game, before Shubladze broke her serve in the following game to take a 3-1 lead.
The Romanian, however, fought back by winning the next two games to level the set at 3-3, briefly putting pressure on the young qualifier. But Shubladze regained control, breaking Cirstea twice in succession and winning the next three games to seal a 6-3 victory and complete the straight-sets upset.
Shubladze will now face American player Claire Liu in the semifinals.
The defeat could mark the end of Cirstea's professional tennis career. The 36-year-old Romanian announced in December 2025 that the 2026 season would be her last on the tour.
Related News:
Hong Kong Tennis Open sells out for second straight day as Eala and Cirstea advance
Comment