I wrote the Romanian version of this article in Sweden, where I was playing for two weeks in “Elitserien”, the first league of the National Teams Championship, as part of the Lidingö team. In the meantime I’m back home, after reaching the semifinals with my Swedish team.

I am ending a season in which I played a lot, at times I think too much. But then, I conclude that this schedule was appropriate. First, from a subjective point of view, because I was grateful that I recovered from the two injuries and I felt I had to take advantage of my good health by playing. Then, because I needed money, hence the multitude of team events in which I participated. These financed both my trips to ITF tournaments, but also the expenses that we players have, like all people.

An important one comes from changing my car. For us, the car is mandatory, almost like the racket. There is no other way to get to practice, physical training, recovery, in three different places in Bucharest, on the same day. In addition, you also play tournaments in the capital city and throughout the country, and travelling by public transport does not help performance.

Since the time had come – long ago – to change the old one, I decided to take this step.

Studying; in the Bucegi Mountains; in Miami
and on the court, in Germany

But let’s get back to tennis itself: 

What did I achieve this season?

• I played in 26 official ITF tournaments, plus 13 other events (these, in team events – the championships in Romania, France, Germany, Italy and Sweden + 1 UTR tournament)
• I played 62 matches in ITF tournaments – record: 35-27 (in singles, because this year I did not focus on doubles, an event in which I still won a title in the W15 category)
• I accumulated 108 WTA points in singles, compared to only 63 in 2024, so I end the season ranked 490th in the WTA, after starting it on 626
• I won 14,451 USD gross on the ITF circuit and a little over 20,000 € in team events abroad, and from the clubs in Romania that I represented, CSM Timişoara and Rapid

Much? Little? Could I have done better?

First, the progress in the rankings speaks for itself.

At almost 30 years old, taking into account the personal context, which I have introduced you to, extensively and honestly in the 40 articles published on this blog, I am relatively satisfied. I say “relatively” because it could have been even better. I have enough to reproach myself for, especially in terms of approaching certain matches, in which I did not have enough confidence in myself and the opponents took advantage.

But I also had beautiful achievements, which satisfied me and helped me continue, because I am still there and fighting.

*

Towards the end of the year, a major satisfaction came from outside the court, namely, I was elected to the ITF World Tennis Tour player panel for a two-year term (2026-27).

What is the ITF Players Panel, how I was elected and what are my goals

A group of players elected by their peers is designated to be their “voice” on the tour, to synthesize their reactions, wishes, criticisms related to the rules and thus to influence the direction in which the circuit is headed. All this, in the interest of the players. In other words, an advisory body.

The Players Council is composed of 9 members: us, the 7 players – 5 in the men’s Council -, the Council president, the quadruple Grand Slam champion (in all events), Mary Pierce – Mark Woodforde, in the men’s -, these two without voting rights.
Also without voting rights, the ITF will appoint a coach to the Council, a member of the ITF Coaches Commission.

Our task is to present the issues and proposals – filtered, so that the desired changes can form the basis of a negotiation with a chance of success – at the Council meetings, which will take place each yearly quarter, but also to clarify with our colleagues the various uncertainties they have.

The players’ wishes are largely known, it remains for us to come up with ideas for their implementation and have the necessary strength to negotiate in their favor or, better said, ours.

The Council was established in 2020 (this was the 4th round of elections) following the model of those in the “big” circuits, ATP and WTA. So, our role is even more challenging, in order to demonstrate on one hand that the ITF panel was not established just to imitate, and, on the other, to avoid this tour from remaining just a “Cinderella”, including in the eyes of public opinion.

I was also nominated in 2020, but I was not chosen. However, that nomination made me follow more closely what was happening on the circuit. And there were many changes, almost every year. The tournament categories, implicitly the points and financial prizes, changed and – why not admit it – for the better. Hospitality (paid accommodation) was granted for the tournaments in the W100 and W75 categories (100 and 75 points for the champion, respectively), from the W50 category upwards, the events are broadcasted live on the WTT (World Tennis Tour) platform. Starting this year, off-court coaching (coach’s advice during matches) is allowed, when a chair umpire officiates the match.

There is room for (much) better, and my ambition is to contribute for achieving it.

This year I was nominated by a fellow circuit member, Alexandra Osborne – a member of the Council for two terms – and now I have been elected.

Those who voted probably considered:

• my long activity on the circuit: I played my first ITF tournament (for seniors) in 2010, at just 14 years old
• my results: 35 titles after 79 finals (the first in 2013), 1091 matches played, overall win-loss record: 696-395 (both statistics, for singles and doubles)
• my attitude towards my colleagues, whom I considered opponents only during matches and, otherwise, I treated them with respect, cordiality and, often, with friendship
• also, the blog – you are reading these lines from – helped, because in almost every article – always translated into English – I addressed aspects related to the organization of tournaments – including concrete proposals – and I presented aspects of the players’ daily lives and the problems they face.

I have many ideas, so I have already started working on them. I am researching, rereading the rules and following the players’ comments on various accounts, related to the problems they are facing. I will contact them and then articulate my proposals.

Postscript

I am honored by the attention with which the Romanian media has treated the result of the vote, but, nevertheless, let us keep our cool: a “historical moment in Romanian tennis”, as some publications have headlined regarding my choice, is by no means this.
“Historical moments” for Romanian tennis are those created by Simona, Ilie, Virginia, Ion, Horia, but also by Sorana, Irina, Monica, and the list of “giants” can go on.