Giant-killer Cirstea stuns Li Na, reaches title round

Sorana Cirstea advanced to her first final in five years by upsetting fourth seed Li Na in straight sets at the Toronto WTA tournament on Saturday. The Romanian Fed Cup player, who defeated world number 10 Caroline Wozniacki in second round, rallied in the second set to beat China’s Li 6-1, 7-6 (7/5).

‘I am really excited for what’s happened this week and for tomorrow.Everything now is coming together for me. It is nice to see that,’ said Cirstea, who next faces world number one and top seed Serena Williams.

Cirstea (23) cruised through the first set before Li jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second in the $2.4369 million hardcourt event at the Rexall Centre. Cirstea won five of the next seven games then clinched the semifinal victory on the third match point when Li double-faulted. 

Cirstea reached a career-high ranking of 22 in June. She made it to the semis twice earlier this year in Pattaya City and Stanford and played in four semis in 2012.