Sorana Cirstea Reports Theft of Trophy During US Open
Sorana Cirstea, a Romanian tennis player, reported a theft while attending the 2025 US Open in New York City. The incident occurred at The Fifty Sonesta Hotel, where she claims her Cleveland trophy was taken from her room.
“Whoever stole my Cleveland trophy from room 314 @thefiftysonesta please give it back! It has NO material value, just sentimental value! It would be greatly appreciated! Thank you, Sorana,” she posted on her Instagram Story on August 30.
The trophy, won at the Tennis in the Land tournament just days prior, holds significant personal value for Cirstea. The hotel management confirmed they are actively investigating the matter. “We are in close communication with our valued guest regarding the reported missing item,” stated the hotel’s general manager. “Our director of safety and security, a retired NYPD detective, is personally overseeing the investigation.”
Cirstea, currently ranked No. 41 in women's tennis, secured the trophy after defeating American Ann Li with a score of 6-2, 6-4 on August 24. This victory marked her third WTA singles title and her first in four years.
At the US Open, Cirstea faced challenges in both singles and doubles competitions. She was eliminated in the second round by Karolina Muchova on August 28 and lost in the first round of doubles alongside partner Anna Kalinskaya to Americans McCartney Kessler and Peyton Stearns on August 29.
Following her announcement about the theft, the Tennis in the Land tournament responded positively. “We can’t let you go home without any hardware!” they posted on Instagram, tagging an awards brand and promising to “make things right.” Cirstea shared their message on her Instagram Story, expressing gratitude with three red-heart emojis.
Reflecting on her recent win, Cirstea had previously celebrated her achievement on social media. “Thank you @tennisintheland @wta for the wonderful week,” she wrote on August 24, sharing a photo with her trophy. “This title made me very happy.”
After her victory in Cleveland, she expressed appreciation for the support from fans throughout the tournament. “From the first match of [qualifying], I felt the energy, I felt welcome, and I really loved the city and the vibe,” she remarked after defeating Li. “You could see on the court how relaxed and how much I was enjoying [myself]. I really wanted to stay as long as possible here, so I’m very happy that I managed to do that.”
She concluded with a sentiment that resonated with many: “It’s been a special week for me. I really just came here to play some matches with absolutely zero expectations.”
