Radio România Internațional

Tag: rankings

  • Athlete of the week

    Athlete of the week


    The WTA women’s circuit schedule last week included a tennis tournament in
    Lyon, an event with 193 thousand Euros up for grabs. The Romanian tennis player
    Sorana Cîrstea was 2nd-seeded and succeeded
    to honor her status, reaching as far as the tournament’s semifinal. Sorana’s
    feat earned her a better position according to the WTA rankings. Reason enough
    for Radio Romania International to designate Sorana
    Cirstea the Athlete of the week.


    Had she succeeded to play the final in Lyon, according
    to the world rankings Sorana Cirstea would have been able to outclass Simona
    Halep, who for quite a few years now has been Romania’s best-placed tennis
    player. For Sorana Cirstea, the main draw in Lyon looked accessible. In the
    first three matches Sorana did not lose a single set. Her trail in Lyon
    included wins against Georgia’s Mariam Bolkvadze, Stefanie Vögele of Switzerland
    and Hungary’s Anna Bondar. However, in the semifinal, Sorana Cirstea faced 21-year-old
    Ukrainian challenger Dayana Yastremska. We recall that in 2019 Yastremska was a
    whisker away from earning a place among the world’s top 20 women tennis players.
    In the first round, Yastremska succeeded a hard-fought win against another
    Romanian, Ana Bogdan, since her opponent wasted the opportunity to secure her
    win with a match ball. It took the Ukrainian three sets to overpower Sorana
    Cirstea. Yastremska won the match, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4. Sorana got 8,145 Euros and 110
    WTA points, climbing four notches up according to the WTA rankings, from the 31st
    to the 27th-place. Simona Halep is 26th-placed according to the same
    rankings.


    Sorana Cîrstea was born in the southern Romanian town of Targoviste on
    April 7th, 1990. She turned pro in 2006. The same year she came in
    348th according to the WTA rankings. So far Sorana Cirstea has won a
    WTA tournament, in Taskent, in 2008, and another one in Istanbul, in 2021. Sorana
    Cirstea’s best WTA ranking position occurred in August 2013, when she was 21st-placed.
    A rather difficult period followed for the Romanian, but in recent years Sorana
    braced up and succeeded to regain the excellent shape she used to be in. According
    to the WTA website, Sorana’s net worth as a tennis player amounts to almost
    seven million dollars.


    (EN)

  • Athlete of the week

    Athlete of the week


    The WTA women’s circuit schedule last week included a tennis tournament in
    Lyon, an event with 193 thousand Euros up for grabs. The Romanian tennis player
    Sorana Cîrstea was 2nd-seeded and succeeded
    to honor her status, reaching as far as the tournament’s semifinal. Sorana’s
    feat earned her a better position according to the WTA rankings. Reason enough
    for Radio Romania International to designate Sorana
    Cirstea the Athlete of the week.


    Had she succeeded to play the final in Lyon, according
    to the world rankings Sorana Cirstea would have been able to outclass Simona
    Halep, who for quite a few years now has been Romania’s best-placed tennis
    player. For Sorana Cirstea, the main draw in Lyon looked accessible. In the
    first three matches Sorana did not lose a single set. Her trail in Lyon
    included wins against Georgia’s Mariam Bolkvadze, Stefanie Vögele of Switzerland
    and Hungary’s Anna Bondar. However, in the semifinal, Sorana Cirstea faced 21-year-old
    Ukrainian challenger Dayana Yastremska. We recall that in 2019 Yastremska was a
    whisker away from earning a place among the world’s top 20 women tennis players.
    In the first round, Yastremska succeeded a hard-fought win against another
    Romanian, Ana Bogdan, since her opponent wasted the opportunity to secure her
    win with a match ball. It took the Ukrainian three sets to overpower Sorana
    Cirstea. Yastremska won the match, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4. Sorana got 8,145 Euros and 110
    WTA points, climbing four notches up according to the WTA rankings, from the 31st
    to the 27th-place. Simona Halep is 26th-placed according to the same
    rankings.


    Sorana Cîrstea was born in the southern Romanian town of Targoviste on
    April 7th, 1990. She turned pro in 2006. The same year she came in
    348th according to the WTA rankings. So far Sorana Cirstea has won a
    WTA tournament, in Taskent, in 2008, and another one in Istanbul, in 2021. Sorana
    Cirstea’s best WTA ranking position occurred in August 2013, when she was 21st-placed.
    A rather difficult period followed for the Romanian, but in recent years Sorana
    braced up and succeeded to regain the excellent shape she used to be in. According
    to the WTA website, Sorana’s net worth as a tennis player amounts to almost
    seven million dollars.


    (EN)

  • Athlete of the week

    Athlete of the week

    Last week’s attention-grabbing event was the Europa Top-16
    table tennis tournament hosted by the city of Montreux in Switzerland. Each year
    the event brings together Europe’s top-flight table tennis players. In 2022,
    representing Romania in the women’s version of the tournament were Bernadette
    Szőcs and Elizabeta Samara. Szőcs had the best run, coming in 3rd according
    to the final rankings. Reason enough for Radio Romania International to
    designate Bernadette Szőcs the Athlete of the week.


    In Montreux, in the round of 16, Bernadette Szőcs outclassed Portugal’s Jieni
    Shao, 4-2. In the quarterfinals, Bernie
    won the match against Dutch opponent Britt Eerland, also 4-2. However, in the semi-finals,
    Bernadette Szőcs lost the game against German challenger Ying Han, nil-4. In
    the quarterfinals, Han also defeated Elizabeta Samara, 4-3. Germany’s Ying Han
    eventually won the tournament, grabbing a 4-nil win against Russian challenger Polina
    Mikhaylova, 4-nil.



    Bernadette Szőcs was born on March 5th, 1995 la Târgu Mureş (central Transylvania).
    She took up sports at the age of 8. Her results in cadets and juniors’ competitions
    were quick to appear. Bernadette won several medals in European and world competitions
    and saw herself in the upper part of the echelon according to world rankings rather
    quickly. In 2010, when the official financial support in Romania was scarce, Bernadette
    Szőcs intended to relocate to Norway and compete for that Scandinavian country
    but eventually she did not succeed to carry her project through. In 2016, at
    the European championship in Budapest, Bernie came in 3rd in the
    mixed doubles event, jointly with Ovidiu Ionescu. In 2017, at the European
    championship in Luxembourg, Bernadette Szőcs won her
    first European title, with Romania’s national team. In 2019, in Nantes, Bernadette
    also won the European title in the nations’ competition. Meanwhile, in Montreux,
    in 2018, Bernie won the Europa Top-16 tournament. Bernadette Szőcs is 23rd-placed
    according to the as-it-stands world classification. The other Romanian, Elizabeta
    Samara, is 31st- placed according to the same rankings.


    (EN)

  • Athlete of the week

    Athlete of the week

    Last week’s attention-grabbing event was the Europa Top-16
    table tennis tournament hosted by the city of Montreux in Switzerland. Each year
    the event brings together Europe’s top-flight table tennis players. In 2022,
    representing Romania in the women’s version of the tournament were Bernadette
    Szőcs and Elizabeta Samara. Szőcs had the best run, coming in 3rd according
    to the final rankings. Reason enough for Radio Romania International to
    designate Bernadette Szőcs the Athlete of the week.


    In Montreux, in the round of 16, Bernadette Szőcs outclassed Portugal’s Jieni
    Shao, 4-2. In the quarterfinals, Bernie
    won the match against Dutch opponent Britt Eerland, also 4-2. However, in the semi-finals,
    Bernadette Szőcs lost the game against German challenger Ying Han, nil-4. In
    the quarterfinals, Han also defeated Elizabeta Samara, 4-3. Germany’s Ying Han
    eventually won the tournament, grabbing a 4-nil win against Russian challenger Polina
    Mikhaylova, 4-nil.



    Bernadette Szőcs was born on March 5th, 1995 la Târgu Mureş (central Transylvania).
    She took up sports at the age of 8. Her results in cadets and juniors’ competitions
    were quick to appear. Bernadette won several medals in European and world competitions
    and saw herself in the upper part of the echelon according to world rankings rather
    quickly. In 2010, when the official financial support in Romania was scarce, Bernadette
    Szőcs intended to relocate to Norway and compete for that Scandinavian country
    but eventually she did not succeed to carry her project through. In 2016, at
    the European championship in Budapest, Bernie came in 3rd in the
    mixed doubles event, jointly with Ovidiu Ionescu. In 2017, at the European
    championship in Luxembourg, Bernadette Szőcs won her
    first European title, with Romania’s national team. In 2019, in Nantes, Bernadette
    also won the European title in the nations’ competition. Meanwhile, in Montreux,
    in 2018, Bernie won the Europa Top-16 tournament. Bernadette Szőcs is 23rd-placed
    according to the as-it-stands world classification. The other Romanian, Elizabeta
    Samara, is 31st- placed according to the same rankings.


    (EN)

  • Athlete of the week

    Athlete of the week


    Simona Halep has had an auspicious start in 2022. Simona
    has reigned supreme in the very first tournament of the year she competed in, the Melbourne
    Summer Set 1, an event with 239, 477 USD in prize money. Also, it was the first
    success for Romanian sports in the New Year. Reason enough for Radio Romania International
    to designate Simona Halep the Athlete of the Week.


    In Melbourne, Simona entered the main draw from her
    WTA 20th-position. She was 2nd-seeded, while Japan’s Naomi Osaka was
    top seeded. In the first round, Halep defeated Australia’s Destanee Aiava, who
    came straight from the qualifiers, 6-4, 6-2. Then Halep defeated a Romanian, Elena-Gabriela
    Ruse, 6-2, 6-1. In the quarterfinals, Halep had a hard time defeating the 6th-seeded
    player in Melbourne, the Swiss Victorija Golubovic, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. In the
    semi-final, Halep had an easy job defeating former WTA number 1, China’s Qinwen
    Zheng, 6-3, 6-2. Then the final she played against the 3rd-seeded
    tennis player in Melbourne, Russian challenger Veronika Kudermetova followed;
    Simona Halep won, 6-2, 6-3. The win in Melbourne earned Halep the 15th
    position according to the WTA rankings.


    Simona Halep is one of the best players in Romanian
    tennis. Born on September 27, 1991, in Constanta, Halep made her debut as a pro
    in 2006, when she proved her mettle in her first ITF circuit tournaments. In
    2010, Halep was included among the world’s top 100 tennis players. In August
    2014, Simona Halep was WTA second-placed, at that time the best
    position ever for a Romanian woman tennis player. From October 2017 and all through
    to January 2018, Halep was at the top of the WTA rankings. In February 2018,
    Simona Halep resumed her position at the top of the table. She stayed there until
    early 2019, after the Australian Open. Halep was at the top of
    the WTA rankings for 64 weeks. The Romanian’s outstanding record includes the
    winning of two Grand Slam tournaments, in Roland Garros, in 2018, and in
    Wimbledon, in 2019.

    (EN)



  • Athlete of the week

    Athlete of the week


    Simona Halep has had an auspicious start in 2022. Simona
    has reigned supreme in the very first tournament of the year she competed in, the Melbourne
    Summer Set 1, an event with 239, 477 USD in prize money. Also, it was the first
    success for Romanian sports in the New Year. Reason enough for Radio Romania International
    to designate Simona Halep the Athlete of the Week.


    In Melbourne, Simona entered the main draw from her
    WTA 20th-position. She was 2nd-seeded, while Japan’s Naomi Osaka was
    top seeded. In the first round, Halep defeated Australia’s Destanee Aiava, who
    came straight from the qualifiers, 6-4, 6-2. Then Halep defeated a Romanian, Elena-Gabriela
    Ruse, 6-2, 6-1. In the quarterfinals, Halep had a hard time defeating the 6th-seeded
    player in Melbourne, the Swiss Victorija Golubovic, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. In the
    semi-final, Halep had an easy job defeating former WTA number 1, China’s Qinwen
    Zheng, 6-3, 6-2. Then the final she played against the 3rd-seeded
    tennis player in Melbourne, Russian challenger Veronika Kudermetova followed;
    Simona Halep won, 6-2, 6-3. The win in Melbourne earned Halep the 15th
    position according to the WTA rankings.


    Simona Halep is one of the best players in Romanian
    tennis. Born on September 27, 1991, in Constanta, Halep made her debut as a pro
    in 2006, when she proved her mettle in her first ITF circuit tournaments. In
    2010, Halep was included among the world’s top 100 tennis players. In August
    2014, Simona Halep was WTA second-placed, at that time the best
    position ever for a Romanian woman tennis player. From October 2017 and all through
    to January 2018, Halep was at the top of the WTA rankings. In February 2018,
    Simona Halep resumed her position at the top of the table. She stayed there until
    early 2019, after the Australian Open. Halep was at the top of
    the WTA rankings for 64 weeks. The Romanian’s outstanding record includes the
    winning of two Grand Slam tournaments, in Roland Garros, in 2018, and in
    Wimbledon, in 2019.

    (EN)



  • End of year sport rankings

    End of year sport rankings

    The year end is, in all fields, a good opportunity to take a moment and look back, at both accomplishments and failures, and to reward performers. It is the case in Romanian sports as well, where specialist federations as well as regional, local and club teams are drawing up their final standings for the year.



    Designated the best Romanian footballer of the year is George Puscas, who currently plays for the British side Reading. He was one of the authors of Romanias qualification into the semi-finals of the European youth championship, and is one of the most efficient Romanian strikers playing abroad. In the same event that rewarded Puscas as the best player, namely the Romanian Football Gala, Razvan Lucescu was awarded the title of best Romanian coach of the year 2019. He won the Greek football championship and Cup trophies with his team, PAOK Thessaloniki, and then he moved to the Saudi side Al Hilal to win the Asian Champions League.



    Florinel Coman, a striker for FCSB, tops the charts of the Romanian League I players, according to data made public by InStat, quoted by Agerpres news agency. InStat came up with an index that assesses football performances based on objective criteria, and according to which Florinel Coman, with 314 points, is followed by Constantin Budescu, playing for Astra Giurgiu, and by Adrian Paun of CFR Cluj, both with 307 points. The best score in this ranking is 401, for Barcelona star player Lionel Messi, who has recently been awarded the 6th golden shoe trophy in his career.



    Sabre athlete Bianca Pascu, a member of Dinamo Bucharest club, was designated the best Romanian fencer of the year 2019. Her main accomplishment this year was the bronze medal won in the World Championships held in Budapest, Hungary, in July. In that competition, Bianca was the only member of the Romanian delegation to come home with a medal.



    The Romanian-born Canadian tennis player Bianca Andreescu, number 5 in the world and winner of the 2019 US Open, was unanimously voted the Athlete of the Year in Canada by a panel of 30 sports journalists, in what counted as an absolute first for a tennis player.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)