First-Time partners Anna Kalinskaya and Sorana Cirstea conquer Madrid doubles

Anna Kalinskaya and Sorana Cirstea clinched the women's doubles title at the Madrid Open, their first WTA 1000 title in the category. It was the first tournament in which the Romanian and the Russian teamed up to play doubles, and they defeated some of the best partnerships in the world along the way.

In the first round, they already overcame the first seeds Erin Routliffe (No. 3) and Gabriela Dabrowski (No. 5), starting to show that they were a formidable pair in the draw. They then recorded straightforward victories against the duo Hozumi (No. 46) / Eikkeri (No. 52) and then in the quarterfinals against the young stars Linda Noskova (No. 64) and Clara Tauson (No. 129).

An even greater challenge arrived in the semifinals, against Jelena Ostapenko (doubles No. 4) and Su-Wei Hsieh (No. 11), two players who have been among the best doubles specialists in recent years and who entered the main draw as 3rd seeds, whom they also defeated in straight sets.

The final pitted Cirstea and Kalinskaya against a partnership of two specialists: former No. 1 Elise Mertens (No. 27) and former No. 2 Veronika Kudermetova (No. 12). In a tight duel, the Romanian-Russian pair took the victory 6-7(10-12), 6-2, [12-10].

For Cirstea, it is the 6th doubles title of her career, her first in over 6 years, although the previous five titles were in the WTA 250 category. On Kalinskaya's side, she had three doubles titles – the last in 2022 – and this is also her first WTA 1000 title. Even more remarkable is that it was only the first time they had teamed up as a pair.

The Road to the Title

Round of 32: Cirstea/Kalinskaya d. Routliffe/Dabrowski (first seeds) – 6-3, 4-6, [10-7]

Round of 16: Cirstea/Kalinskaya d. Hozumi/Eikkeri - 7-5, 7-5

Quarterfinals: Cirstea/Kalinskaya d. Noskova/Tauson - 6-0, 6-3

Semifinals: Cirstea/Kalinskaya d. Ostapenko/Hsieh – 7-6(2), 6-4

Final: Cirstea/Kalinskaya d. Mertens/Kudermetova - 6-7(10-12), 6-2, [12-10].