"I still feel the butterflies and love for tennis" – Sorana Cirstea on returning to the tour in 2025

Sorana Cirstea has been a constant presence on the WTA Tour for many years. After a brief hiatus from professional tennis, she is returning to the 2025 season with optimism, looking to make an impact on the circuit.

Currently competing at the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships, Cirstea is aiming to put on impressive displays in the country she now calls home.

Known for her powerful forehand and aggressive baseline play, Cirstea has been a force on the court since turning professional in 2006. The Romanian, who started playing tennis at four years old, has two singles and five doubles titlesto her name.

She reached a career-high ranking of 21 in 2013 and has earned multiple wins over top-10 players. Her best Grand Slam performance came when she reached the quarterfinals. Now back on tour after recovering from injury, she is eager to make the most of 2025.

Speaking to The National, Cirstea reflected on her first time playing in Dubai and how much has changed since then.

"I still remember the first time I was here with my coach and mum, and I have amazing memories. I remember I was mesmerized back then in 2009 with Dubai and everything it has to offer. Fast forward, and now I live here; this is my home tournament, and I stay at home during the tournament. It's amazing."

Cirstea, who received a wildcard into this year's main draw, also expressed gratitude to the event organisers for their commitment to women's tennis.

"You never know where life takes you, but I'm very happy life took me to Dubai. I need to thank the organizers for their commitment to women's tennis, for 25 years of improvements, and every year trying to offer the best for us. This has to be one of my favorite tournaments on tour, not just because it's home, but everything they're trying to offer us."

One of her most unforgettable moments at the tournament came when football legend Diego Maradona joined her at the pre-match coin toss.

"I didn't know he was going to be there, but then they announced that Diego Maradona was going to do the coin toss. I was so nervous, and I was more nervous about the coin toss than the actual match," Cirstea said.

"I remember he stayed and watched the match. I remember it like it was yesterday. Life goes by quickly, so it's essential to enjoy every moment and day and make the most of it. I've definitely had great memories from here, especially last year, making the semifinals, having all my family watching me, and having all the support from the Romanian fans. It felt amazing."

Cirstea also spoke about her recovery from injury and how it has changed her perspective.

"It wasn't easy, but I knew I didn't want to retire on an injury. So I made the effort to have the surgery, to do all four months of rehab," she explained.

"It's not easy, especially being away and watching the girls compete, wanting to compete, and loving tennis – I love to play. For me, this is the main thing; I still feel the butterflies and love for tennis and the competition.

"Now I can say that I am healthy. It's been amazing. I didn't think I'd ever be able to play without pain. It was a tough eight months, but I'm grateful to be here today and to compete again."

Cirstea is a great competitor, and it will be exciting to see what 2025 has in store for her as she continues her comeback on the WTA Tour. It's always difficult for an athlete to come back from such big injury. Seeing how Cirstea is going to fair will be very interesting.