Radio România Internațional

Tag: tournament

  • Romanian tennis player Gabriela Ruse

    Romanian tennis player Gabriela Ruse


    Tennis players from Romania were among the protagonists of several international competitions underway last week. Irina Begu for instance made it to the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid then jumped up to the 27th position in the world hierarchy, close to the best ranking in her career, the 22nd position she obtained back in 2016.


    Also in Madrid, Gabriela Ruse came very close to the finals of the womens double. Together with Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, Ruse had made it to the semifinals where they were outperformed 7-5, 7-6 by the top-seeded all-American pair Jessica Pegula / Coco Gauff.


    Sorana Cîrstea, also from Romania, emerged as winner of the WTA 125 tournament held in Reus, Spain, a competition with 100 thousand Euros in prize money after outperforming Elizabeth Mandlik of the USA in the finals.


    So we had a difficult task today in our attempt to designate the athlete of the week here on Radio Romania International. However, we have eventually chosen Gabriela Ruse whose performance has brought her no less than 390 WTA points, more than to Irina and Sorana, and also managed a jump of seven places in the doubles ranking currently to the 32nd position, which is the best in her career so far.


    Elena-Gabriela Ruse was born on November 6th 1997, in Bucharest. She took up tennis when she was four years old with Dinamo Bucharest Sports Club. She has so far won only one WTA tournament, the one in Hamburg in 2021.


    In the same year she made it to the finals of the Palermo tournament and is presently ranking 152nd in the world standings. She obtained her best performance in May last year, when she made it to the 51st position. She has obtained better results in doubles matches though, particularly since she has been competing together with Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine. In the first Grand Slam tournament of the year in Melbourne, the pair has made it to the semifinals.


    (bill)


  • Sports Roundup

    Sports Roundup




    The
    Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea won the WTA 100 held in Reus, Spain. On
    Sunday she defeated Elizabeth Mandlik (US) 6-1, 4-6, 7-6. For this achievement,
    Sorana was awarded EUR 13,000 and 160 WTA points. Another performance for
    Romanian tennis players last week was Gabriela Ruse’s qualifying into the
    semi-finals of the doubles competition of the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid, together
    with Marta Kostiuk (Ukraine). The two athletes were defeated by seeds no. 1 Jessica
    Pegula / Coco Gauff (US), 7-5, 7-6 in the match for the final. Ruse and Kostiuk
    received 390 WTA points.




    Both teams
    representing Romania at the women’s handball Champions League left the
    competition after the quarter-finals. On Saturday, Rapid Bucharest lost to Vipers
    Kristiansand 40 – 31 in Norway, after Vipers had already won the first leg of
    the match, in Bucharest, 31-25. On Sunday, Team Esbjerg, of Denmark, beat CSM
    Bucharest, 33-31, in the Romanian capital city, after a previous 32-28 win at
    home. The Hungarian teams Győr and Ferencváros are the other 2 teams qualified
    into the final tournament of the Champions League, scheduled for June in
    Budapest.




    This
    weekend saw the start of the largest chess tournament hosted by Bucharest:
    Superbet Chess Classic Romania. Scores of the world’s top chess players are
    taking part. Romania is represented by Bogdan Deac and Richard Rapport. After 2
    rounds, 3 players are top of the tables with 1.5 points: Wesley So (US), rusul Ian
    Nepomniachtchi (Russia) and Richard Rapport. The tournament offers USD 350,000
    in total prize money and is the first round of the 2023 Grand Chess Tour.




    Matches
    were played over the weekend counting for the 7th leg of the play-off
    / play-out round of the Romanian football SuperLeague. In the play-out, on
    Friday FC Voluntari Mioveni 1-0, and Petrolul defeated Chindia Târgovişte, 2-1.
    On Saturday, FC Botoşani drew against Universitatea Clu, 0-0, with the last two
    matches, pitting Hermannstadt against FC U Craiova and FC Argeş against UTA
    Arad, scheduled for Monday.




    In the
    play-offs, on Saturday Farul Constanţa thrashed Rapid Bucharest, 7-2, while on
    Sunday CFR Cluj and Universitatea Craiova drew, 1-1. In the last match of this
    leg, FCSB are facing Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe in Bucharest on Monday. Top of the
    standings so far are Farul Constanta, with 46 points, followed by FCSB (40). (AMP)

  • Sports Roundup

    Sports Roundup




    The
    Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea won the WTA 100 held in Reus, Spain. On
    Sunday she defeated Elizabeth Mandlik (US) 6-1, 4-6, 7-6. For this achievement,
    Sorana was awarded EUR 13,000 and 160 WTA points. Another performance for
    Romanian tennis players last week was Gabriela Ruse’s qualifying into the
    semi-finals of the doubles competition of the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid, together
    with Marta Kostiuk (Ukraine). The two athletes were defeated by seeds no. 1 Jessica
    Pegula / Coco Gauff (US), 7-5, 7-6 in the match for the final. Ruse and Kostiuk
    received 390 WTA points.




    Both teams
    representing Romania at the women’s handball Champions League left the
    competition after the quarter-finals. On Saturday, Rapid Bucharest lost to Vipers
    Kristiansand 40 – 31 in Norway, after Vipers had already won the first leg of
    the match, in Bucharest, 31-25. On Sunday, Team Esbjerg, of Denmark, beat CSM
    Bucharest, 33-31, in the Romanian capital city, after a previous 32-28 win at
    home. The Hungarian teams Győr and Ferencváros are the other 2 teams qualified
    into the final tournament of the Champions League, scheduled for June in
    Budapest.




    This
    weekend saw the start of the largest chess tournament hosted by Bucharest:
    Superbet Chess Classic Romania. Scores of the world’s top chess players are
    taking part. Romania is represented by Bogdan Deac and Richard Rapport. After 2
    rounds, 3 players are top of the tables with 1.5 points: Wesley So (US), rusul Ian
    Nepomniachtchi (Russia) and Richard Rapport. The tournament offers USD 350,000
    in total prize money and is the first round of the 2023 Grand Chess Tour.




    Matches
    were played over the weekend counting for the 7th leg of the play-off
    / play-out round of the Romanian football SuperLeague. In the play-out, on
    Friday FC Voluntari Mioveni 1-0, and Petrolul defeated Chindia Târgovişte, 2-1.
    On Saturday, FC Botoşani drew against Universitatea Clu, 0-0, with the last two
    matches, pitting Hermannstadt against FC U Craiova and FC Argeş against UTA
    Arad, scheduled for Monday.




    In the
    play-offs, on Saturday Farul Constanţa thrashed Rapid Bucharest, 7-2, while on
    Sunday CFR Cluj and Universitatea Craiova drew, 1-1. In the last match of this
    leg, FCSB are facing Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe in Bucharest on Monday. Top of the
    standings so far are Farul Constanta, with 46 points, followed by FCSB (40). (AMP)

  • Sports Flash

    Sports Flash

    Romania’s
    men’s handball team was defeated in Bucharest on Wednesday by Austria, 35 – 30.
    It was the last but one game for Romania ahead of the 2024 European
    Championship qualifiers, Group 4. In its last match, Romania will face Ukraine
    in Gummersbach, Germany on Sunday. At the time being, Austria is top of the
    group standings with 10 points out of 10, followed by Romania and the Faroe
    Islands with 4 points each, and Ukraine with 2 points. The top 2 teams in each
    group qualify to the final tournament, alongside the best 4 teams ranking 3rd.
    The European Championships will be hosted by Germany between January 10 and 28,
    2024. Romania last played in a men’s European Championship in 1996.




    The
    Romanian tennis player Jaqueline Cristian Wednesday qualified into the second
    round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid, with EUR 7,700,000 in total prize
    money. In the first round she beat Sloane Stephens of the US, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. Her
    next opponent will be Anastasia Potapova of Russia, seed no 21. Also on
    Wednesday, Gabriela Ruse lost to Alizé Cornet (France), 6-7, 6-4, 6-4. Also
    playing in the second round of the Madrid competition are Ana Bogdan, Sorana
    Cîrstea and Irina Begu.




    Sepsi
    Sfântu Gheorghe is the first finalist of the Romanian football Cup. On
    Wednesday, the team from Covasna defeated CFR Cluj in the semis, 3 – 0. Sepsi, the
    current cup holders, scored 10 minutes into the match, thanks to Nicolae Păun, 19
    minutes later through Marius Ştefănescu, and on 81 minutes through Venezuelan Mario
    Rondon. Defending champions CFR played more than half of the match with only 10
    men on the pitch, after defender Andrei Burcă was sent out on 43 minutes over a
    foul on Pavol Šafranko. The referee granted a penalty kick, but Cosmin Matei failed
    to score. The final is scheduled on May 24 in Sibiu. (AMP)

  • Sports Flash

    Sports Flash

    Romania’s
    men’s handball team was defeated in Bucharest on Wednesday by Austria, 35 – 30.
    It was the last but one game for Romania ahead of the 2024 European
    Championship qualifiers, Group 4. In its last match, Romania will face Ukraine
    in Gummersbach, Germany on Sunday. At the time being, Austria is top of the
    group standings with 10 points out of 10, followed by Romania and the Faroe
    Islands with 4 points each, and Ukraine with 2 points. The top 2 teams in each
    group qualify to the final tournament, alongside the best 4 teams ranking 3rd.
    The European Championships will be hosted by Germany between January 10 and 28,
    2024. Romania last played in a men’s European Championship in 1996.




    The
    Romanian tennis player Jaqueline Cristian Wednesday qualified into the second
    round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid, with EUR 7,700,000 in total prize
    money. In the first round she beat Sloane Stephens of the US, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. Her
    next opponent will be Anastasia Potapova of Russia, seed no 21. Also on
    Wednesday, Gabriela Ruse lost to Alizé Cornet (France), 6-7, 6-4, 6-4. Also
    playing in the second round of the Madrid competition are Ana Bogdan, Sorana
    Cîrstea and Irina Begu.




    Sepsi
    Sfântu Gheorghe is the first finalist of the Romanian football Cup. On
    Wednesday, the team from Covasna defeated CFR Cluj in the semis, 3 – 0. Sepsi, the
    current cup holders, scored 10 minutes into the match, thanks to Nicolae Păun, 19
    minutes later through Marius Ştefănescu, and on 81 minutes through Venezuelan Mario
    Rondon. Defending champions CFR played more than half of the match with only 10
    men on the pitch, after defender Andrei Burcă was sent out on 43 minutes over a
    foul on Pavol Šafranko. The referee granted a penalty kick, but Cosmin Matei failed
    to score. The final is scheduled on May 24 in Sibiu. (AMP)

  • Sports flash

    Sports flash

    We begin with news from mens basketball. In Group A as part of the EuroCup, this past Wednesday, U BT Cluj-Napoca sustained a 91-71 defeat by German side Ulm. With a record of five wins and 13 wins, holders U BT Cluj-Napoca are 9th-placed the last but one position at the end of Europes second-tier competition. Only the first eight teams in descending order have advanced to the competitions round of last 16.



    In the domestic basketball championship, this past Wednesday CSM CSU Oradea have succeeded their 22nd consecutive win, defeating CSU Sibiu, 91-70, away from home. The fixture counts towards the 1-10 group as part of the Mens Basketball National Leagues 26th round. With 31 points in 16 games, CSM CSU Oradea are at the top of the table. The runner-up team is U-BT Cluj-Napoca, with 28 points in 15 games.



    With a defeat on aggregate in the second leg as part of the quarterfinal qualifier playoffs of the competition, Dinamo Bucharest was edged of the Champions League in mens handball. On Wednesday, holders Dinamo grabbed a 32-31 away win against German side THW Kiel. Last week in Bucharest, THW Kiel trounced Dinamo, 41-28. In the quarterfinals, THW Kiel go against French challengers Paris Saint-Germain.



    In news from womens tennis, Irina Begu and Anhelina Kalinina were unable to go past the quarterfinals of the Miami WTA 1.000 tournament, an event with 8. 8 million dollars in prize money all told. The Romanian-Ukrainian pair sustained a 3-6, 7-6 defeat by US-Polish pair made of Bernarda Pera and Magda Linette. Begu and Kalinina received a cheque worth 62, 630 USD and were granted 215 WTA points in the doubles rankings.



    In artistic gymnastics, the World Artistic Gymnastics Juniors championships are underway in Turkiyes Antalya. This past Wednesday when the competition kicked- started, Romanias mens delegation, made of David Puicea, Iustin Mihai and Norbert Marcu, came in 25th according to the nations competition.(EN)


  • Sports flash

    Sports flash

    We begin with news from mens basketball. In Group A as part of the EuroCup, this past Wednesday, U BT Cluj-Napoca sustained a 91-71 defeat by German side Ulm. With a record of five wins and 13 wins, holders U BT Cluj-Napoca are 9th-placed the last but one position at the end of Europes second-tier competition. Only the first eight teams in descending order have advanced to the competitions round of last 16.



    In the domestic basketball championship, this past Wednesday CSM CSU Oradea have succeeded their 22nd consecutive win, defeating CSU Sibiu, 91-70, away from home. The fixture counts towards the 1-10 group as part of the Mens Basketball National Leagues 26th round. With 31 points in 16 games, CSM CSU Oradea are at the top of the table. The runner-up team is U-BT Cluj-Napoca, with 28 points in 15 games.



    With a defeat on aggregate in the second leg as part of the quarterfinal qualifier playoffs of the competition, Dinamo Bucharest was edged of the Champions League in mens handball. On Wednesday, holders Dinamo grabbed a 32-31 away win against German side THW Kiel. Last week in Bucharest, THW Kiel trounced Dinamo, 41-28. In the quarterfinals, THW Kiel go against French challengers Paris Saint-Germain.



    In news from womens tennis, Irina Begu and Anhelina Kalinina were unable to go past the quarterfinals of the Miami WTA 1.000 tournament, an event with 8. 8 million dollars in prize money all told. The Romanian-Ukrainian pair sustained a 3-6, 7-6 defeat by US-Polish pair made of Bernarda Pera and Magda Linette. Begu and Kalinina received a cheque worth 62, 630 USD and were granted 215 WTA points in the doubles rankings.



    In artistic gymnastics, the World Artistic Gymnastics Juniors championships are underway in Turkiyes Antalya. This past Wednesday when the competition kicked- started, Romanias mens delegation, made of David Puicea, Iustin Mihai and Norbert Marcu, came in 25th according to the nations competition.(EN)


  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend

    The Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea has
    qualified to the second round of the WTA 1000 tournament of Indian Wells, an
    event with 8,8 million USD in prize money. In the first round on Thursday evening, Cirstea defeated Australia’s Kimberly Birrell, 6-3, 6-2. WTA 83rd-placed
    Cirstea will next take on WTA 20th-placed, the American Madison Keys.


    In Bucharest on Saturday, Romania’s men’s national
    handball team play the Faeroe Islands team. The fixture counts towards the 4th
    group stage as part of the preliminaries of the European Championship, scheduled in
    2024. Austria is at the top of the as-it-stands table, with 6 points
    in 3 games played. With two points each but with a different goal average,
    following in descending order are the teams of Romania, Faeroe Islands and
    Ukraine, with one win and two defeats each. The first two teams in each of the eight
    preliminary groups secure their ticket to the final tournament, alongside the
    best 3rd-placed four teams. The European Men’s Handball Championship
    will be held in Germany over January
    10 and 28, 2024.


    In news from football, this coming weekend will
    see matches being played, counting towards the 30th and the last round as
    part of the Romanian Super League’s regular season. On Friday, FC Botosani faces Dacia Mioveni, while
    Universitatea Craiova goes against UTA Arad. On Saturday, FC Argeş receives the visit of Petrolul Ploieşti, while Rapid
    Bucureşti travels to Ovidiu, in the south-east, for a match against Farul
    Constanţa. In Bucharest on Sunday, FCSB goes against Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe,
    while in Sibiu, FC Hermannstadt takes on FC U Craiova. In Ploiesti on Monday, Chindia
    Târgovişte faces FC Voluntari. The 30th round’s closing game is also the Cluj derby,
    pitting CFR against Universitatea. The fixture will be hosted by holders CFR’s
    stadium. Ahead of the 30th round, Farul is at the top of the table
    with 61 points. Following are CFR,
    with 60, FCSB, with 54, Rapid, with 52, and Universitatea Craiova, with 51 points.
    All these teams have secured, mathematically, their qualification to Group 1. Fighting
    for the sixth place among the upper-echelon teams are Sepsi
    Sfântu Gheorghe and FC U Craiova. The other Super league teams will compete in Group
    2, in a bid to avoid relegation to the second League.(EN)


    —–

  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend

    The Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea has
    qualified to the second round of the WTA 1000 tournament of Indian Wells, an
    event with 8,8 million USD in prize money. In the first round on Thursday evening, Cirstea defeated Australia’s Kimberly Birrell, 6-3, 6-2. WTA 83rd-placed
    Cirstea will next take on WTA 20th-placed, the American Madison Keys.


    In Bucharest on Saturday, Romania’s men’s national
    handball team play the Faeroe Islands team. The fixture counts towards the 4th
    group stage as part of the preliminaries of the European Championship, scheduled in
    2024. Austria is at the top of the as-it-stands table, with 6 points
    in 3 games played. With two points each but with a different goal average,
    following in descending order are the teams of Romania, Faeroe Islands and
    Ukraine, with one win and two defeats each. The first two teams in each of the eight
    preliminary groups secure their ticket to the final tournament, alongside the
    best 3rd-placed four teams. The European Men’s Handball Championship
    will be held in Germany over January
    10 and 28, 2024.


    In news from football, this coming weekend will
    see matches being played, counting towards the 30th and the last round as
    part of the Romanian Super League’s regular season. On Friday, FC Botosani faces Dacia Mioveni, while
    Universitatea Craiova goes against UTA Arad. On Saturday, FC Argeş receives the visit of Petrolul Ploieşti, while Rapid
    Bucureşti travels to Ovidiu, in the south-east, for a match against Farul
    Constanţa. In Bucharest on Sunday, FCSB goes against Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe,
    while in Sibiu, FC Hermannstadt takes on FC U Craiova. In Ploiesti on Monday, Chindia
    Târgovişte faces FC Voluntari. The 30th round’s closing game is also the Cluj derby,
    pitting CFR against Universitatea. The fixture will be hosted by holders CFR’s
    stadium. Ahead of the 30th round, Farul is at the top of the table
    with 61 points. Following are CFR,
    with 60, FCSB, with 54, Rapid, with 52, and Universitatea Craiova, with 51 points.
    All these teams have secured, mathematically, their qualification to Group 1. Fighting
    for the sixth place among the upper-echelon teams are Sepsi
    Sfântu Gheorghe and FC U Craiova. The other Super league teams will compete in Group
    2, in a bid to avoid relegation to the second League.(EN)


    —–

  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend

    Romanian tennis player Monica Niculescu this
    coming Saturday will prove her mettle in the women’s doubles semi-finals
    of the WTA 250 tournament in Lyon, an event with 225, 480 Euros in prize money. Pairing
    up with Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic, In the quarterfinals, Niculescu
    secured her qualification winning the match against the all-American pair made
    of Kaitlyn Christian and Sabrina Santamaria, 5-7, 6-1, 10-7.


    Romanian women’s handball team SCM Râmnicu
    Vâlcea on Saturday play a home game against German opponents Thuringer. The
    fixture counts towards the fourth round as part of the EHF European League’s group
    stage. With 6 points in three games, Thuringer are at the top of the table in Group
    D. With 2 points but with a better goal average, SCM Ramnicu Vâlcea are second-placed,
    on a par with 3rd and 4rd-placed teams, Paris 92 of France and Hungary’s Vac.


    The Champions League will see matches being
    played, counting towards the last-but-one-round of the group stage. On Saturday,
    Rapid Bucharest travel to France for a match against the Group B leader, Metz
    Handball. For holders Rapid, the game is extremely important for their direct qualification
    to the quarterfinals.


    Two rounds ahead of the group stage, Metz Handball
    have 21 points. Following in descending order are Hungarian team Gyor, Denmark’s
    Esbjerg and Rapid Bucharest, with 18 points each. On Sunday and on home turf, in
    Group A CSM Bucharest play also a French team, Brest Bretagne. Romania’s
    vice-champion team have already secured their ticket to the quarterfinals, also
    being the leaders in the rankings, with 21 points. Following in descending order
    are Norway’s Vipers Kristiansand, with 19 points. Playing straight to the Champions
    League’s quarterfinals are only the first two teams in each group. According to
    a round-robin system, 3rd,
    4th, 5th and 6th-placed teams compete in the League’s play-off stage.


    Matches counting
    towards the 24th round of the Romanian football Superleague are scheduled at
    the weekend. On Friday, Chindia Târgovişte play UTA Arad and FC U Craiova face Universitatea
    Cluj. On Saturday in Sibiu, the local side Hermannstadt receive the visit of FC
    Arges, while in Bucharest Rapid play FC Voluntari. On Sunday, Mioveni play a home game against Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe. The 24th
    round’s derby will see CFR Cluj traveling to Bucharest for a fixture against
    FCSB. On Monday, Petrolul Ploiesti play
    FC Botosani, away from home, while in Ovidiu, in the south-east, Farul
    Constanta face Universitatea Craiova. With 50 points, CFR Cluj are at the top
    of the table, while Farul Constanta are the runner-up team, with 48.(EN)



  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend

    Romanian tennis player Monica Niculescu this
    coming Saturday will prove her mettle in the women’s doubles semi-finals
    of the WTA 250 tournament in Lyon, an event with 225, 480 Euros in prize money. Pairing
    up with Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic, In the quarterfinals, Niculescu
    secured her qualification winning the match against the all-American pair made
    of Kaitlyn Christian and Sabrina Santamaria, 5-7, 6-1, 10-7.


    Romanian women’s handball team SCM Râmnicu
    Vâlcea on Saturday play a home game against German opponents Thuringer. The
    fixture counts towards the fourth round as part of the EHF European League’s group
    stage. With 6 points in three games, Thuringer are at the top of the table in Group
    D. With 2 points but with a better goal average, SCM Ramnicu Vâlcea are second-placed,
    on a par with 3rd and 4rd-placed teams, Paris 92 of France and Hungary’s Vac.


    The Champions League will see matches being
    played, counting towards the last-but-one-round of the group stage. On Saturday,
    Rapid Bucharest travel to France for a match against the Group B leader, Metz
    Handball. For holders Rapid, the game is extremely important for their direct qualification
    to the quarterfinals.


    Two rounds ahead of the group stage, Metz Handball
    have 21 points. Following in descending order are Hungarian team Gyor, Denmark’s
    Esbjerg and Rapid Bucharest, with 18 points each. On Sunday and on home turf, in
    Group A CSM Bucharest play also a French team, Brest Bretagne. Romania’s
    vice-champion team have already secured their ticket to the quarterfinals, also
    being the leaders in the rankings, with 21 points. Following in descending order
    are Norway’s Vipers Kristiansand, with 19 points. Playing straight to the Champions
    League’s quarterfinals are only the first two teams in each group. According to
    a round-robin system, 3rd,
    4th, 5th and 6th-placed teams compete in the League’s play-off stage.


    Matches counting
    towards the 24th round of the Romanian football Superleague are scheduled at
    the weekend. On Friday, Chindia Târgovişte play UTA Arad and FC U Craiova face Universitatea
    Cluj. On Saturday in Sibiu, the local side Hermannstadt receive the visit of FC
    Arges, while in Bucharest Rapid play FC Voluntari. On Sunday, Mioveni play a home game against Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe. The 24th
    round’s derby will see CFR Cluj traveling to Bucharest for a fixture against
    FCSB. On Monday, Petrolul Ploiesti play
    FC Botosani, away from home, while in Ovidiu, in the south-east, Farul
    Constanta face Universitatea Craiova. With 50 points, CFR Cluj are at the top
    of the table, while Farul Constanta are the runner-up team, with 48.(EN)



  • Athlete of the Week

    Athlete of the Week

    The year’s first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open, ended last
    week in Melbourne.




    Novak Djokovic won the men’s competition, the present edition actually
    being the tenth he has won in his entire career. The Serbian player has also
    added his 22nd Grand Slam trophy equaling the record so far held by Spanish
    Rafael Nadal. The women’s competition was won by the 24-year-old Arina
    Sabalenka of Belarus, who obtained her first Grand Slam win. She presently
    comes second in the world’s ranking after Polish Iga Swiatek.






    Romania was represented only in the women’s competition where Irina Begu
    made it to the second round while Monica Niculescu reached the eighth finals
    together with Swiss Viktorija Golubic. The best performance in the
    aforementioned competition was obtained by Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who made it to
    the semifinals together with Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk. The two eventually
    conceded defeat to second-seeded Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova of
    the Czech Republic who eventually emerged as winners. For the performance she
    obtained in Melbourne, Radio Romania International has designated Gabriela Ruse
    athlete of the week.






    Elena-Gabriela Ruse was born on November 6th 1997, in Bucharest.
    She took up tennis at the age of four with Dinamo Bucharest Sports club. She
    reaped only one WTA tournament in Hamburg in 2021 and made it to the finals in
    Palermo. She is currently ranking 144th in the world ranking and the
    highest position she obtained last year when she ranked 51st. In the
    doubles competition she is presently ranking 40th.




    (bill)

  • Athlete of the Week

    Athlete of the Week

    The year’s first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open, ended last
    week in Melbourne.




    Novak Djokovic won the men’s competition, the present edition actually
    being the tenth he has won in his entire career. The Serbian player has also
    added his 22nd Grand Slam trophy equaling the record so far held by Spanish
    Rafael Nadal. The women’s competition was won by the 24-year-old Arina
    Sabalenka of Belarus, who obtained her first Grand Slam win. She presently
    comes second in the world’s ranking after Polish Iga Swiatek.






    Romania was represented only in the women’s competition where Irina Begu
    made it to the second round while Monica Niculescu reached the eighth finals
    together with Swiss Viktorija Golubic. The best performance in the
    aforementioned competition was obtained by Elena-Gabriela Ruse, who made it to
    the semifinals together with Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk. The two eventually
    conceded defeat to second-seeded Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova of
    the Czech Republic who eventually emerged as winners. For the performance she
    obtained in Melbourne, Radio Romania International has designated Gabriela Ruse
    athlete of the week.






    Elena-Gabriela Ruse was born on November 6th 1997, in Bucharest.
    She took up tennis at the age of four with Dinamo Bucharest Sports club. She
    reaped only one WTA tournament in Hamburg in 2021 and made it to the finals in
    Palermo. She is currently ranking 144th in the world ranking and the
    highest position she obtained last year when she ranked 51st. In the
    doubles competition she is presently ranking 40th.




    (bill)

  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend

    The year’s first Grand Slam tennis tournament,
    the Australian Open, is still underway this coming weekend. Romania is represented
    only in the women’s version of the competition. In the women’s singles Irina
    Begu was eliminated from the competition this past Thursday. Begu lost to Germany’s
    Laura Siegemund in three sets, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3. In the women’s doubles, the
    Romanian-Swiss pair made of Monica Niculescu and Viktorija Golubic defeated the
    Romanian-German pair made of Jaqueline Cristian and Tamara Korpatsch in the
    first round, 6-4, 6-4. Also on Thursday, Gabriela Ruse and the Ukrainian Marta
    Kostiuk defeated the US-British pair made of Danielle Collins and Heather
    Watson, 6-4, 6-2. In 2022, as part of the Roland Garros tournament, Ruse and Kostiuk
    jointly reached as far as the tournament’s quarterfinals.


    In the Champions League in women’s
    handball, this coming Sunday, in a Group A fixture, CSM Bucharest take on
    German opponents Bietigheim, away from home. CSM are at the top of the table in
    the group, with 19 points. Following in descending order is the winner of the
    League’s 2022 edition, Norwegian team Vipers Kristiansand, with 17 points. In their
    next three matches, CSM need one more point to secure their qualification in
    the Champions League’s quarterfinals.


    In Group B, Rapid Bucharest
    play a home game against Turkish champions Kastamonu. With 16 points, holders
    Rapid are 4th-placed in the group, on a par with 3rd-placed
    Esbjerg of Denmark. French Metz Handball are at the top
    of the table, with 19 points. Hungarian team Gyor are 2nd-placed,
    with 18 points. Playing straight in the Champions League’s quarterfinals are
    the 1st and the 2nd placed teams in each group. 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th-placed teams
    will play their playoff fixtures, according to a round-robin system.


    The Romanian football Super League is to be
    resumed at the weekend. Fixtures counting towards the 22nd-round will
    see Universitatea Cluj taking on FC
    Voluntari, while Rapid face Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe on Friday. On Saturday, Petrolul
    Ploiești travel to Mioveni, while Universitatea Craiova are pitted against FC Botoșani,
    away from home. On Sunday FC U Craiova play a home game
    against UTA Arad, while in Sibiu, the local side Hermannstadt ply FCSB. On Monday
    in Ploiești, Chindia Târgoviște play a home match against FC Argeș, while in Ovidiu,
    in the south-east, Farul Constanța play CFR Cluj, in the 22nd round’s
    derby. Farul Constanța are at the top of the table, with 45 points. With 44 points,
    defending champions CFR Cluj are 2nd-placed in the rankings. With 38
    points each, FCSB, Rapid Bucharest and Universitatea Craiova follow, in descending
    order.(EN)


  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend

    The year’s first Grand Slam tennis tournament,
    the Australian Open, is still underway this coming weekend. Romania is represented
    only in the women’s version of the competition. In the women’s singles Irina
    Begu was eliminated from the competition this past Thursday. Begu lost to Germany’s
    Laura Siegemund in three sets, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3. In the women’s doubles, the
    Romanian-Swiss pair made of Monica Niculescu and Viktorija Golubic defeated the
    Romanian-German pair made of Jaqueline Cristian and Tamara Korpatsch in the
    first round, 6-4, 6-4. Also on Thursday, Gabriela Ruse and the Ukrainian Marta
    Kostiuk defeated the US-British pair made of Danielle Collins and Heather
    Watson, 6-4, 6-2. In 2022, as part of the Roland Garros tournament, Ruse and Kostiuk
    jointly reached as far as the tournament’s quarterfinals.


    In the Champions League in women’s
    handball, this coming Sunday, in a Group A fixture, CSM Bucharest take on
    German opponents Bietigheim, away from home. CSM are at the top of the table in
    the group, with 19 points. Following in descending order is the winner of the
    League’s 2022 edition, Norwegian team Vipers Kristiansand, with 17 points. In their
    next three matches, CSM need one more point to secure their qualification in
    the Champions League’s quarterfinals.


    In Group B, Rapid Bucharest
    play a home game against Turkish champions Kastamonu. With 16 points, holders
    Rapid are 4th-placed in the group, on a par with 3rd-placed
    Esbjerg of Denmark. French Metz Handball are at the top
    of the table, with 19 points. Hungarian team Gyor are 2nd-placed,
    with 18 points. Playing straight in the Champions League’s quarterfinals are
    the 1st and the 2nd placed teams in each group. 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th-placed teams
    will play their playoff fixtures, according to a round-robin system.


    The Romanian football Super League is to be
    resumed at the weekend. Fixtures counting towards the 22nd-round will
    see Universitatea Cluj taking on FC
    Voluntari, while Rapid face Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe on Friday. On Saturday, Petrolul
    Ploiești travel to Mioveni, while Universitatea Craiova are pitted against FC Botoșani,
    away from home. On Sunday FC U Craiova play a home game
    against UTA Arad, while in Sibiu, the local side Hermannstadt ply FCSB. On Monday
    in Ploiești, Chindia Târgoviște play a home match against FC Argeș, while in Ovidiu,
    in the south-east, Farul Constanța play CFR Cluj, in the 22nd round’s
    derby. Farul Constanța are at the top of the table, with 45 points. With 44 points,
    defending champions CFR Cluj are 2nd-placed in the rankings. With 38
    points each, FCSB, Rapid Bucharest and Universitatea Craiova follow, in descending
    order.(EN)