I start this new Court Chronicles story, going back in time and space: July 21st, Hamburg airport.
I am going to fly home and the next day I will board another plane, this time to Satu Mare. I really needed a few hours spent in Bucharest, because only there I am able to recharge my mental energy.
In Pinneberg (near Hamburg) I played a prize money tournament in the German national circuit, where I reached the semi-finals. A small improvement on the previous same circuit tournament (Oberkirch), where I made it to the quarter-finals, losing my second match of the day. At these tournaments two matches are played a day, a very good training for the player’s physical form.
In this regard I improved too, because in Pinneberg I won two matches on the same day.
This is the result of more and more intensive training sessions with William Birău, my new coach, which I introduced to you in the previous article.
Between Will & the trophy
In the last two months I progressed in training from an hour and a half a day – which tired me out – to three hours at high intensity, tied.
Don’t let me be misunderstood that until then I took it easier.
It’s just that training every day with a former player – who is now building a career as a coach, also relying on the experience gained as a sparring partner of Romania’s Billie Jean King Cup team – gave me full confidence in my physical and technical strength which were partially lost after the successive injuries.
In other words, the fear of another injury disappeared.
And the patience – which, I admit, is not my strong point – with which I went through this draconian schedule would be fully rewarded, because when I wrote the above lines from Hamburg airport and I had three ITF W15 tournaments planned in consecutive weeks – Satu Mare, Braşov, Bucharest – I did not imagine that I would finish this article as singles champion of the one played in Romania’s Capital.
This, after I was playing the final in Satu Mare and winning eight matches in Bucharest, because of my poor ranking, which sent me to the qualifications.
The hope was there, and so was the belief that a singles title would come after a five-year wait. I mean, it was just mine – when I was writing about a “new beginning” – and the few who believed in me. And not even all of them. After I became champion, a loyal longtime friend confided to me (half-jokingly, of course) that when I told him I was sure I would win at least one more singles title, he said to himself: “she is delusional!”.
Who would have thought that I could physically withstand four tournaments in consecutive weeks? Or that during a one-month period I will play 19 matches and win 16 of them?
Not to mention that the sentimental value of this title – the first after 5 years, in singles – is huge from another point of view. It’s the first one that I win at home in singles. And it’s literally “home” because I live in walking distance from the National Tennis Center, where the tournament was hosted.
I will never forget something like that.
Champion at ITF W15 Bucharest, august 11, 2024
Video from the award ceremony at the end of the article
The story, in short, of the three tournaments
In Satu Mare, I was pleasantly impressed by the club where the tournament took place: 8 clay courts and a restaurant where you could relax and recover. And the people there, welcoming and friendly.
I started the tournament with a solid match against Stefania Bojică. I was already feeling good and more confident on the court. But the next one was the one with Giulia Safina Popa, only 14 years old, but who certainly has a bright future in the WTA circuit. I wrote about Giulia’s potential in the last article, but now I experienced it firsthand: it took me over three hours and to come back from one set down to overcome her.
With two other good matches won in two sets each, I completed the road to the final. It was the first singles one in the official circuit after almost two years. But my opponent was Patricia Ţig, who needs no other introduction. I lost, but I wasn’t bitter because:
- I managed an encouraging tight second set 5-7 (having no idea about the rivalry with her which would follow in the short term)
- the match was televised – on TVR Cluj – a media visibility that I’m rarely enjoying
- the crowd in the stands was large, which for us on the ITF Tour is an unique feeling, that is, we are not playing live just for ourselves.
The ride home lasted 9 hours. I battled car sickness, which generally makes me prefer flying. But I gained time thanks to the kindness of the supervisor, who offered to take me with him together with the referee lady of the final.
I didn’t have much time to rest because the next day was the departure for the next tournament and the new destination: Brașov. I used some of the few hours spent at home, I also made time for a visit to my physiotherapists office, Osteo Performance – I can’t thank enough the guys there – in order to soothe, the usual small pains.
Just before I left for Brașov, I found out that if I would pass the first round, in the next one I will again have Patricia as opponent. I got ready for the new confrontation, and I hoped that the conditions in Brașov would give me an advantage. I wanted to start this second match better and that I did: 2-0, then 3-2. I was playing well, but a small mistake upset me, and the experienced Patricia took advantage. The game turned around and I lost again.
I was a bit disappointed and tried as much as possible to analyze my game, but also hers, because Patricia was starting to obsess me. Am I really not able to win at least a set against her?
I continued in doubles alongside Irina Anghel until the semi-finals.
Neither after this tournament, I didn’t have time to relax, because on Sunday we were starting the qualifying for the tournament at home, from the National Center. I was disappointed that I had to go through the three qualifying rounds, but I knew that my level had increased and it would be easier for me. I wanted to treat this tournament week with more joy and take advantage of the coach’s presence. I was in that state of autopilot, playing every match thinking only about the game plan. I decided to make the most of my experience.
In my free time, I enjoyed the visit of my “family” from Florida, about whom I told you last year. They came to see me at home, but also to get to know our country and culture, which they were pleasantly impressed by.
That’s how I got to the quarter-finals where I met Patricia Ţig for the third time! I was firmly convinced that if I didn’t raise my level and adopt a smart game plan she would become a “bête noire” for me. My attitude must be different, i.e. one dominated by self confidence, not by doubts.
I entered the court determined, the kind of “I’m dying on the court, but I will not give up” attitude.
I was losing the first set again, although I felt that I was playing well. During the break between sets, I had a good cry in the locker room, which vanished my feeling of helplessness. So, crying at the right time can have beneficial effects.
Because in the second set I managed to come back from 0-2 with the help of Will Birău’s encouragements and even win it 7-5. In the decider I came back for the second time in the match from 1-3 and imposed myself with 6-3.
This was one of the most important victories in my career, especially considering the difficult period that I went through.
But the moment to celebrate had not yet arrived. Two difficult matches followed, although the first set of that with Patricia was the only one that I lost at this tournament. The final was full of emotions, because, of course, in my subconscious I was afraid that I would trip at the finish line. I managed to overcome every difficult moment and win the 10th ITF title in Singles [at the end of the article, statistics compiled by a friend1.
A precious trophy that I celebrated at home, a special situation that the players don’t really have so often.
In this last month, my ranking also improved, because I climbed from 971 to 719 WTA.
The next day, a visit to Dr. Alin Pandea – the guardian angel of my physical problems – for a new knee infiltration. I’ve learned lately that it’s better to treat pain right away, in order to get before the injuries. There followed two days of forced rest and another three days of preparation.
I end the article in Cluj, where I will play another series of three tournaments in consecutive weeks, the other two being Brașov and Slobozia; the first two included in the W35 category, the last, in the W50.
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When there is a reason to criticize, we don’t have to hold back, but let’s not forget to praise the things that are improving. So I emphasize the significantly higher number of ITF tournaments (men’s, too), which are played in Romania, a godsend for our players.
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Oana won last week at ITF W15 Bucharest, the 44th title of her career in the official circuit, after 78 contested finals.
In singles she played in 23 finals, record 10-13, and in doubles, 55, record 34-21.
The 10 Singles titles were all of the W15 (former 10k) category, all on clay, the first in Iaşi, July 2014, the second to last in Cairo, September 2019.
The others, in 2016 – 1; 2017 – 2; 2018-1; 2019-4.
