Radio România Internațional

Tag: Mutua Madrid Open

  • April 27, 2024 UPDATE

    April 27, 2024 UPDATE

    PALM SUNDAY – On Sunday, Orthodox and Eastern-Catholic Christians in Romania are celebrating Palm Sunday, marking the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. According to tradition, on this day people bring willow branches to church to be blessed, which they then take back to their homes for protection. Willow branches are substitutes for the palm and olive branches the crowds brought to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem. This Sunday marks the start of the last week of Eastern Lent, when people prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, this year observed on May 5. Mass processions were held in several towns and villages in the country on Palm Sunday eve, and a traditional procession will be held on Sunday in Bucharest. Nearly 1.8 million Romanians celebrate their name day on this occasion.

     

     

    DEFICIT – Romania’s budget deficit has exceeded 2% of the GDP in the first three months of the year, according to data provided by the Finance Ministry. Spending was by approximately 7.4 billion EUR higher than revenues. Total revenues stood at a little over 26.5 billion EUR in the first quarter of the year, up by 16% compared to the same period of 2023, whereas spending stood at 33.7 billion EUR, up by 23% compared to last year. At the end of 2023, Romania’s budget deficit accounted for 5.68% of the GDP, by 0.08% less than in 2022.

     

     

    ENERGY – Romania has some of the lowest prices for electricity and natural gas at EU level. According to Eurostat, the prices for natural gas for household users were the third-lowest at community level, accounting for half of the EU average. For electricity, Romanians are paying 65% of the EU average. Household users in Hungary and Croatia have the lowest prices for natural gas, while the lowest prices for electricity are reported in Hungary, Bulgaria and Malta. Overall, the total value of energy bills for EU consumers went down in the second half of 2023, after the increase caused by the war in Ukraine.

     

     

    ELECTION – The Central Election Authority in Bucharest has announced mobile voting regulations ahead of the local and European Parliament elections to be held on June 9. Thus, voters who can’t cast their vote in person can submit a request to their local polling station and request a mobile ballot box be brought to their address, for both elections. Mobile voting is disallowed in polling stations abroad. The votes will be recorded on separate lists.

     

     

    GAUDEAMUS – The city of Cluj Napoca (northwest) is playing host to the Transylvania-Gaudeamus Book Fair, organized by Radio Romania. Having reached its 23rd edition, the fair this year has 85 publishers exhibiting their offers, including book launches, music and educational games. A few thousand volumes in Romanian and international or minority languages will be on display. Over 40 events are organized on the sidelines of the fair, book launches, panel discussions and book signings. The book fair will close on Sunday.

     

     

    ROWING – Romania on Saturday grabbed three medals at the European Rowing Championships in Szeged, Hungary. The gold went to the women’s pair made up of Gianina van Groningen and Ionela Cozmiuc. A silver medal was won by the women’s four-scull crew made up of Mădălina Bereş, Maria Lehaci, Magdalena Rusu and Amalia Bereş. Finally, Romania’s 8+1 men’s crew, made up of Mihăiţă Ţigănescu, Ciprian Tudosă, Constantin Adam, Mugurel Vasile Semciuc, Florin Arteni, Sergiu Bejan, Ştefan Berariu, Florin Lehaci and Adrian Munteanu grabbed bronze. On Sunday, Romania will be represented in the women’s single scull, men’s pair, men’s double-scull, women’s pair, men’s four-scull, women’s four-scull and women’s 8+1 events. Romania won 6 medals at the 2023 edition of the European Championships, hosted by Bled, Slovenia, 5 gold and 1 silver.

     

     

    TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea on Saturday lost to Poland’s Iga Świątek, world no. 1, in the third round at the WTA 1000 Mutua Madrid Open in Spain. Ranked 30 in WTA standings, Cîrstea lost in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1. Świątek leads 4-0 head-to-head. On Sunday, Jaqueline Cristian will take on Danielle Collins of the USA in the third round, after ousting Barbora Krejcikova of Czechia in the second round, 2-6, 6-0, 6-2. (VP)

  • April 27, 2024

    April 27, 2024

    PALM SUNDAY – On Sunday, Orthodox and Eastern-Catholic Christians in Romania are celebrating Palm Sunday, marking the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. According to tradition, on this day people bring willow branches to church to be blessed, which they then take back to their homes for protection. Willow branches are substitutes for the palm and olive branches the crowds brought to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem. This Sunday marks the start of the last week of Eastern Lent, when people prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, this year observed on May 5. Mass processions were held in several towns and villages in the country on Palm Sunday eve, and a traditional procession will be held on Sunday in Bucharest. Nearly 1.8 million Romanians celebrate their name day on this occasion.

     

     

    UKRAINE – Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr and the Chief of Defense Staff, General Gheorghiță Vlad represented Romania in the 4th meeting of the Contact Group for Ukraine, held in videoconference format. According to the Defense Ministry, the meeting examined progress reported since the previous meetings, and briefed participants regarding military developments linked to the conflict in Ukraine. Minister Tîlvăr highlighted Romania’s multi-dimensional support for Ukraine, including Romania’s participation in the EU Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM), training Ukrainian servicemen, as well as in the INTERFLEX mission led by the UK.

     

     

    MOLDOVA – EU integration is the best solution to boost the resilience of the Republic of Moldova in the face of current security challenges, Romania’s Foreign Minister Luminița Odobescu said in Chișinău. The Romanian official referred to Romania’s project to assist Moldova in increasing its capacity to counteract non-conventional security risks, with a focus on cyber-security, the protection of critical infrastructure and hybrid threats. The second phase of this project was launched on Friday. “We will continue to provide support to consolidate the legal and institutional framework of the Republic of Moldova, in line with EU requirements”, Minister Odobescu pointed out.

     

     

    COOPERATION – Turkey is Romania’s top trade partner from outside the EU and the number one destination of Romanian exports, Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Friday after meeting Turkey’s vice-president, Cevdet Yilmaz in Bucharest. Talks focused on the current security context and the best cooperation solutions at bilateral and NATO levels. Also on Friday, the Romanian Prime Minister attended the third meeting of the Inter-Government Cooperation Committee of Romania and the United Arab Emirates. The Romanian official said the development of strategic projects will benefit the economic development of both states. Last week, Marcel Ciolacu paid a visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he met with high-ranking officials as well as representatives of companies interested in expanding their operations and investing in Romania.

     

     

    GAUDEAMUS – The city of Cluj Napoca (northwest) is playing host to the Transylvania-Gaudeamus Book Fair, organized by Radio Romania. Having reached its 23rd edition, the fair this year has 85 publishers exhibiting their offers, including book launches, music and educational games. A few thousand volumes in Romanian and international or minority languages will be on display. Over 40 events are organized on the sidelines of the fair, book launches, panel discussions and book signings. The book fair will close on Sunday.

     

     

    ENERGY – Romania has some of the lowest prices for electricity and natural gas at EU level. According to Eurostat, the prices for natural gas for household users were the third-lowest at community level, accounting for half of the EU average. For electricity, Romanians are paying 65% of the EU average. Household users in Hungary and Croatia have the lowest prices for natural gas, while the lowest prices for electricity are reported in Hungary, Bulgaria and Malta. Overall, the total value of energy bills for EU consumers went down in the second half of 2023, after the increase caused by the war in Ukraine.

     

     

    TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Jaqueline Cristian is today playing Danielle Collins of the United States in the third round at the WTA 1000 Mutua Madrid Open, totaling 7.7 million EUR in prizes. On Friday, Jaqueline Cristian ousted Barbora Krejcikova of Czechia, 2-6, 6-0, 6-2 in the second round. Also today, Sorana Cîrstea is playing world no. 1 Iga Świątek of Poland in the third round. (VP)

  • April 30, 2022

    April 30, 2022


    WAR IN UKRAINE – Peace talks with Russia risk failing, Ukraine has warned, after Russian troops continued to bomb positions on the Donbas frontline. Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, explained the people are furious with the discovery of war crimes and atrocities committed by the Russian army. Over 1,000 civilians were found dead after the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Kyiv oblast, many of whom appear to have been summarily executed. They add to the thousands of civilians killed in Russian shelling targeting civilian objectives, including homes, hospitals, schools and cultural centers. In other news, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov, said peace negotiations continue, although with great difficulty. Mariupol, a city devastated by the war, lies mostly in ruins, while the situation is desperate for the few fighters and civilians who are trapped in the Azovstal steelworks, the last bastion of Ukrainian resistance in the city. The Russian army continues its attacks along the eastern frontline, but Ukrainian forces are fighting back and succeed in repelling most of the attacks.



    REFUGEES – The number of Ukrainian refugees who entered Romania went down on Friday by 2.6% compared to the previous day, the Border Police Inspectorate announced on Saturday. According to an official news release, on April 29, over the course of 24 hours, some 96 thousand people entered Romania through all border crossing points, of whom some 8 thousand were Ukrainian citizens. 4,651 Ukrainians entered Romania through the Ukrainian border and another 1,731 through the Moldovan border. Since the start of the war in neighboring Ukraine, a total of 818 thousand Ukrainian citizens entered Romania, most of whom were en route to other Western countries.



    FERRY CROSSING – A new ferry crossing checkpoint will be opened on the Giurgiu-Ruse border following an agreement signed by Romania and Bulgaria. According to the document, the ferry checkpoint will remain open for passengers and vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of 40 tons, and is expected to become operational starting this autumn. The agreement was signed in Bucharest on Friday, during the visit of Buglarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov. The Bulgarian official met with his counterpart, Nicolae Ciucă, as well as with president Klaus Iohannis. Attending Romanian-Bulgarian talks was also EU Commissioner for Transport, Adina Vălean, who said Brussels is ready to support joint Romanian-Bulgarian projects. The EU official highlighted the importance of the Danube River for river traffic in Europe, saying its potential can be further tapped into. Apart from joint transport projects, the two delegations also tackled the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism and the two countries Schengen Accession.



    CYBER ATTACKS – A wave of cyber-attacks hit Romania on Friday and Saturday. The websites of the government, the National Cyber Security Directorate, the Defense Ministry, the Border Police, the National Rail Company and certain commercial banks were taken down. The attack was claimed by the pro-Russian hacker network Killnet, in response to Romanias support actions for Ukraine. Killnet hackers this month also attacked institutions in Estonia, Poland, the Czech Republic, the United States, as well as NATO websites. Experts say this was a DDoS attack, which is a malicious attempt to flood a network or an online service with HTTP requests, thus rendering them unavailable to their users.



    ENERGY – Average electricity prices for household users at EU level went up significantly in the second half of 2021, compared to the same period of 2020. Romania was one of the countries with the highest price hikes in the national currency, the Eurostat reports. According to the European Statistics Office, electricity prices went up across the European bloc, with the exception of Slovakia and Hungary, where prices were regulated. The highest increase, of nearly 50%, was reported in Estonia and Sweden. Other states that reported major increases in electricity prices were Cyprus and Latvia, between 30% and 40%. Romania, alongside Ireland, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Belgium, increased electricity prices by as much as 20%. The lowest electricity prices were signaled in Hungary, Bulgaria and Croatia, while the highest were in Denmark, Germany and Belgium. Last year, household users in the EU paid more for natural gas as well, Bulgaria, Greece and Estonia reporting the biggest increases, while natural gas prices went down only in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Portugal.



    MAY DAY – The summer season official started on Saturday, when hotels and guesthouses opened their doors to the public. Accommodation units on the Romanian Black Sea coast are booked at 80% capacity, hotel owners expecting some 30,000 tourists to arrive in order to celebrate May 1, the International Labor Day. Costinești and Mamaia Nord are hosting music festivals which are expected to bring in a large number of young people. Authorities have deployed additional security forces to ensure public order is observed in crowded areas.



    TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Simona Halep is today playing Paula Badosa of Spain, world no. 2, in the Mutua Madrid Open, totaling some 6.5 million USD in total prizes. On Thursday, Simona Halep ousted Shuai Zhang of China, 6-2, 6-3. Halep won the Madrid Open in 2016 and 2017 and played the final in 2019. (VP)


  • April 28, 2022 UPDATE

    April 28, 2022 UPDATE

    REFUGEES – The number of Ukrainian nationals who
    crossed the border into Romania went up 30% on Wednesday compared to the
    previous day, reads a news release issued by the Romanian Border Police. As
    many as 8,635 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania in 24 hours, coming from
    Ukraine or the R. of Moldova. Since the start of the crisis over 2 months ago,
    over 800,000 Ukrainians have come into Romania. Meanwhile, the UN Refugee
    Agency (UNHCR) announced in a conference in Geneva that over 8 million
    Ukrainians may leave their country. According to the UNHCR spokesperson Shabia
    Mantoo, the Agency and its partners intend to raise 1.85 billion USD to support
    an estimated 8.3 million refugees in Hungary, the Republic of Moldova, Poland,
    Romania and Slovakia, as well as in other countries in the region, including
    Belarus, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.


    UKRAINE – The authorities in Ukraine
    are hopeful about the future, despite the current difficulties, Romanian Senate
    Speaker, Florin Cîțu, said upon his return from Kyiv. Florin Cîțu visited the
    Ukrainian capital to attend the first congress of local authorities held since
    the start of the Russian invasion. Florin Cîțu said talks focused primarily on
    reconstruction. Ukraine needs support for this effort, and it is clear the
    country needs further assistance in order to defend itself, the Romanian
    official pointed out.


    TROOPS – The Romanian defence ministry announced that the Romanian
    Army currently has no troops deployed in the Republic of Moldova to take part
    in drills or other joint training programmes. The statement comes after a
    Russian-language publication released fake news according to which Romania
    plans to attack Transnistria with NATO support, and then to annex the
    Republic of Moldova, and claimed that Romanian troops have already been
    deployed to the neighboring country. Disinformation on Russian channels follows
    a number of attacks by unknown perpetrators, which took place in the past few
    days in Transnistria, a pro-Russian breakaway region in the east of the
    Republic of Moldova.


    GOVERNMENT – The government on Thursday passed an
    emergency decree allowing economic operators on the Romanian Black Seacoast to
    sign contracts for renting and operating the newly created beach areas. In this
    context, the Minister of Tourism and Entrepreneurship, Constantin-Daniel
    Cadariu, announced that over 100 hotels will open their doors to guests for the
    May 1 mini-holiday, which have already booked approximately 80% of their units.
    Also on Thursday, the government passed another emergency decree implementing
    the provisions of the Omnibus Directive, whereby Romanian consumers will
    benefit from the same rights and protection as European citizens. The
    government also passed a draft law for the recognition of babysitters as a
    professional category of workers providing families with child day-care and
    monitoring services. Additionally, the government approved the setup,
    organization and functioning of the cross-ministry committee on climate change,
    which will be coordinated by Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă.


    NATURAL GAS – The European Union
    told Russia it would not give in to blackmail, after Moscow discontinued
    natural gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria, which had refused to pay for
    natural gas in rubles. The European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen
    said the Union had other options to make up for the suspended deliveries, and
    warned member states not to breach the sanctions imposed by the EU after
    Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We have to guarantee alternative supplies and the
    best possible storage levels across the EU, Von der Leyen explained. EU member
    states have implemented emergency plans for such a scenario and we have worked
    together in coordination and solidarity, the EU official added.




    TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Simona Halep on
    Thursday ousted Shuai Zhang of China in the opening round at the Mutua Madrid
    Open. Sorana Cîrstea however lost to Nuria Parrizas Diaz of Spain, while Irina
    Begu was defeated by Belinda Bencic of Switzerland. The Madrid Open takes place
    between April 28 and May 7. Simona Halep won the 2016 and 2017 editions.


    RUGBY -
    Romania’s rugby team has qualified to the 2023 World Cup in France after Spain
    was disqualified for using an ineligible player in two matches held as part of
    the 2021-2022 Rugby Europe Championship. World Rugby had previously opened an
    investigation following a query submitted by Romania, after finishing the Group
    in 3rd place. We recall Romania too was disqualified from the 2019
    World Cup for using an ineligible player.
    (AMP
    & VP)

  • May 7, 2019 UPDATE

    May 7, 2019 UPDATE

    EXTREME WEATHER – 15,000 firefighters, police officers and
    gendarmes are deployed nationwide to deal with the effects of the extreme
    weather, the Interior Ministry reports. A code yellow alert against heavy rain
    and extreme weather phenomena is in place until Wednesday morning. Hydrologists
    have also issued a code orange alert against floods for the west and a code yellow
    flood alert for the northwest and the east. Hundreds of households as well as
    national and county roads were flooded. Several villages were cut off from the
    power grid.




    DEBATE – European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and
    Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday are attending a debate on the
    future of Europe hosted by Sibiu. The debate comes ahead the EU Summit
    scheduled for Thursday and Friday on the sidelines of the Romanian Presidency
    of the Council of the European Union. European Council President Donald Tusk
    has called on EU heads of state and government to adopt the Declaration of
    Sibiu, whereby the EU will convey a message of unity and trust.




    ELECTION CAMPAIGN – The campaign for the European Parliament
    election continues in Romania. 13 political factions are enrolled in the race:
    the Social-Democratic Party, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, the
    Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians, the National Liberal Party, the Save
    Romania Union-Plus alliance, the People’s Movement Party, the Pro Romania
    Party, the National Union for the Progress of Romania, the National Unity Bloc,
    the United Romania Party, the PRODEMO Party, the Romanian Socialist Party and
    the Independent Social-Democratic Party. 3 independent members are also
    enrolled in the race. Romania will have 33 seats in the European Parliament.
    The 33rd mandate will be announced only after Great Britain
    withdraws from the community bloc. 441 voting polls have been set up for
    Romanians abroad, most of which in Italy, Spain and the Republic of Moldova. A
    justice referendum will also be held on May 26.




    POPE FRANCIS – Pope Francis on Tuesday continued his tour of the
    Balkans by visiting North Macedonia. The Pope prayed at the monument devoted to
    Mother Theresa, built over the ruins of the church where Mother Theresa was
    baptized in 1910. Hundreds of thousands of people have enrolled online to take
    part in the masses celebrated by the Pope in Romania. The list includes
    Christians from Hungary, Serbia, Ukraine, Pakistan, Rwanda, South Africa,
    Nigeria, Madagascar, Australia, Israel, Canada, Namibia and Reunion. Over May
    31 – June 2 the Pope is paying an apostolic visit to Romania under the motto
    Let’s go together. Pope Francis will visit Bucharest, Iasi, currently hosting
    the biggest Roman-Catholic community in Romania, Blaj, where he will beatify
    seven Greek-Catholic bishops who died in communist prisons, as well as the
    Marian Shrine in Sumuleu Ciuc. We recall Pope John Paul II visited Romania in 1999,
    the first visit ever paid to a country with an Orthodox majority population.




    INVESTIGATION – Three teenagers are the main
    suspects of the investigation into the ransacking of the Jewish Cemetery in
    Husi. The young men admitted their accusations, claiming they were inspired by
    martial arts films and wanted to practice karate. Aged 15 and 16, the three were
    not detained, but risk prison time for aggravated criminal damage. The
    President at the time condemned their actions, calling on the relevant authorities
    to firmly sanction any anti-Semitic actions. The Government in turn reiterated
    its commitment to combat anti-Semitism and any form of racism, intolerance and
    xenophobia.




    SENTENCE – The Bucharest Court of Appeal on
    Tuesday sentenced the former head of the National Fiscal Administration, Sorin
    Blejnar, to five years in prison for influence peddling. The decision is final.
    In the court of first instance, Blejnar had received six years from the
    Bucharest Tribunal. Court judges maintained the decision to seize some 3
    million euros from Blejnar and impose a distraint on his assets pending the
    recovery of the sum. Anticorruption prosecutors say Blejnar received the money
    from a businessman as payment to help him win several contracts with the
    National Fiscal Administration.






    TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Simona Halep,
    world no. 3, has advanced to the round of 16 at the Mutua Madrid Open in Spain,
    totaling some 7 million dollars in prize money. On Tuesday Halep eased past
    Great Britain’s Johanna Konta, 7-5, 6-1. In the next round Halep will take on
    Viktoria Kuzmova (46 WTA). Aged 27, Halep won the Madrid Open in 2016 and 2017.
    Halep also qualified to the round of 16 in the women’s doubles together with
    Irina Begu, where they will play Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova of
    the Czech Republic on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, another Romanian, Horia
    Tecau together with Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands will play Kyle Edmund
    and Neal Skupski of Great Britain. Tecau and Rojer were winners in 2016 in
    Madrid.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • Athlete of the Week on RRI – Tennis player Simona Halep

    Athlete of the Week on RRI – Tennis player Simona Halep

    Romanian tennis player Simona Halep won its first WTA tournament in 2017. Halep won the Mutua Madrid Open, a competition organized by Romanian businessman Ion Tiriac and offering 5,4 million dollars in prize money. For her performance, we have designated Simona Halep Athlete of the Week on Radio Romania International.



    In Madrid, Halep was seeded third in the main draw. In the first round the Romanian ousted Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-2. In the second round Halep won narrowly against Roberta Vinci of Italy after three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6. The third round pitted Simona Halep against Samantha Stosur of Australia, seeded 16th. The Australian gave Simona a hard time, but eventually the Romanian prevailed, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. In the quarterfinals, Halep knocked out Coco Vandeweghe of the United States in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1. In the semi-finals, Halep went up against Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia, whom she defeated 6-2, 6-3. In the final, Simona won against Kristina Mladenovic of France, seeded 14, 7-5, 6-7, 6-2, after two hours and 44 minutes of playtime.



    Simona Halep was born on September 27, 1991 in Constanta. She made her debut in 2006, when she won her first games in the ITF circuit. In 2010 she made it to the world’s top 100 players. 2013 was a remarkable year for her, as Simona won no less than six WTA tournaments. In August 2014 she was seeded 2nd in WTA standings, the highest ranking ever held by a Romanian tennis player. Since then she has been constantly ranked amongst the world’s top 10 players. (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • Athlete of the Week on RRI – Tennis player Simona Halep

    Athlete of the Week on RRI – Tennis player Simona Halep

    Romanian tennis player Simona Halep won its first WTA tournament in 2017. Halep won the Mutua Madrid Open, a competition organized by Romanian businessman Ion Tiriac and offering 5,4 million dollars in prize money. For her performance, we have designated Simona Halep Athlete of the Week on Radio Romania International.



    In Madrid, Halep was seeded third in the main draw. In the first round the Romanian ousted Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-2. In the second round Halep won narrowly against Roberta Vinci of Italy after three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6. The third round pitted Simona Halep against Samantha Stosur of Australia, seeded 16th. The Australian gave Simona a hard time, but eventually the Romanian prevailed, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. In the quarterfinals, Halep knocked out Coco Vandeweghe of the United States in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1. In the semi-finals, Halep went up against Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia, whom she defeated 6-2, 6-3. In the final, Simona won against Kristina Mladenovic of France, seeded 14, 7-5, 6-7, 6-2, after two hours and 44 minutes of playtime.



    Simona Halep was born on September 27, 1991 in Constanta. She made her debut in 2006, when she won her first games in the ITF circuit. In 2010 she made it to the world’s top 100 players. 2013 was a remarkable year for her, as Simona won no less than six WTA tournaments. In August 2014 she was seeded 2nd in WTA standings, the highest ranking ever held by a Romanian tennis player. Since then she has been constantly ranked amongst the world’s top 10 players. (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • Sportivul săptămânii – Jucătoarea de tenis Simona Halep

    Sportivul săptămânii – Jucătoarea de tenis Simona Halep


    Jucătoarea de tenis Simona Halep a câştigat primul său turneu în 2017. Ea s-a impus la Madrid, în concursul feminin al turneului Mutua Madrid Open, organizat de omul de afaceri român Ion Ţiriac şi dotat, anul acesta, cu premii în valoare totală de 5.439.350 de dolari. În urma acestei performanţe, Radio România Internaţional a desemnat-o pe Simona Halep Sportivul Săptămânii.



    La Madrid, Halep a intrat pe tabloul principal ca favorită numărul 3. A trecut, în primul tur, de Kristyna Pliskova, din Republica Cehă, cu 6-1, 6-2. Turul al doilea a adus‑o pe româncă faţă în faţă cu italianca Roberta Vinci. Simona s-a impus la limită, în trei seturi, cu 6-3, 2-6, 7-6. A fost greu şi în turul trei, cu australianca Samantha Stosur, cap de serie numǎrul 16. Scor final: 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. În sferturile de finală, Halep a întâlnit-o pe Coco Vandeweghe, din Statele Unite, de care a dispus clar, cu 6-1, 6-1. Tot în două seturi şi-a adjudecat şi semifinala cu letona Anastasija Sevastova – scor 6-2, 6-3. În finală, Simona a învins-o pe favorita numărul 14, Kristina Mladenovic, din Franţa, cu 7-5, 6-7, 6-2. Românca a avut nevoie de două ore şi 44 de minute pentru a obţine victoria.



    Simona Halep s-a născut la 27 septembrie 1991, la Constanţa. A debutat în tenisul mare în 2006, când a disputat primele sale jocuri în circuitul ITF. In 2010, a intrat în Top 100. A progresat uimitor în 2013, când a câştigat şase turnee WTA. În 2014, în luna august, a ajuns pe locul 2 în ierarhia mondială, poziţia cea mai înaltă ocupată vreodată de o sportivă din România. De atunci, ea nu a mai ieşit din primele 10 jucătoare ale lumii la simplu.


  • Sportivul săptămânii – Jucătoarea de tenis Simona Halep

    Sportivul săptămânii – Jucătoarea de tenis Simona Halep


    Jucătoarea de tenis Simona Halep a câştigat primul său turneu în 2017. Ea s-a impus la Madrid, în concursul feminin al turneului Mutua Madrid Open, organizat de omul de afaceri român Ion Ţiriac şi dotat, anul acesta, cu premii în valoare totală de 5.439.350 de dolari. În urma acestei performanţe, Radio România Internaţional a desemnat-o pe Simona Halep Sportivul Săptămânii.



    La Madrid, Halep a intrat pe tabloul principal ca favorită numărul 3. A trecut, în primul tur, de Kristyna Pliskova, din Republica Cehă, cu 6-1, 6-2. Turul al doilea a adus‑o pe româncă faţă în faţă cu italianca Roberta Vinci. Simona s-a impus la limită, în trei seturi, cu 6-3, 2-6, 7-6. A fost greu şi în turul trei, cu australianca Samantha Stosur, cap de serie numǎrul 16. Scor final: 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. În sferturile de finală, Halep a întâlnit-o pe Coco Vandeweghe, din Statele Unite, de care a dispus clar, cu 6-1, 6-1. Tot în două seturi şi-a adjudecat şi semifinala cu letona Anastasija Sevastova – scor 6-2, 6-3. În finală, Simona a învins-o pe favorita numărul 14, Kristina Mladenovic, din Franţa, cu 7-5, 6-7, 6-2. Românca a avut nevoie de două ore şi 44 de minute pentru a obţine victoria.



    Simona Halep s-a născut la 27 septembrie 1991, la Constanţa. A debutat în tenisul mare în 2006, când a disputat primele sale jocuri în circuitul ITF. In 2010, a intrat în Top 100. A progresat uimitor în 2013, când a câştigat şase turnee WTA. În 2014, în luna august, a ajuns pe locul 2 în ierarhia mondială, poziţia cea mai înaltă ocupată vreodată de o sportivă din România. De atunci, ea nu a mai ieşit din primele 10 jucătoare ale lumii la simplu.