Local Player Ilinca Amariei Qualifies for the UniCredit Iași Open Main Draw. Jaqueline Cristian Withdraws Due to Injury

The opening day of the fifth edition of the WTA 250 UniCredit Iași Open brought mixed emotions for tennis fans.
Earlier in the day, top seed Jaqueline Cristian was forced to withdraw from the main draw due to an injury.

The good news came from local player Ilinca Amariei, who won the first match of the day on Centre Court and
secured her first-ever qualification to a WTA Tour main draw.

Ilinca Amariei Reaches Her First WTA Main Draw

In the opening match of the day, valid for the final round of qualifying, Iași native Ilinca Amariei, 23,
ranked No. 585 in the WTA rankings, defeated fellow Romanian Carmen Andreea Herea, 20, ranked No. 571,
3-6, 6-4, 6-2, to earn her place in the main draw.

It will be Amariei's first appearance in a WTA Tour main draw.

In another qualifying match, Romania's Irina Fetecău, 30, ranked No. 1,312, was defeated by fifth seed
Elina Avanesyan, 23, world No. 211 and the 2024 Iași finalist, 6-2, 6-2.

Petra Marcinko and Anna Bondar Advance to the Round of 16

Monday also featured the first four main draw singles matches, with second seed Petra Marcinko and seventh
seed Anna Bondar booking their places in the Round of 16.

Croatia's Petra Marcinko, 20, world No. 47, defeated Argentina's Nadia Podoroska, 29, currently ranked
No. 574 and a former world No. 36, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

Hungary's Anna Bondar, world No. 73, overcame Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo, world No. 124,
7-5, 6-4.

Alina Charaeva and France's Clara Burel also secured their spots in the Round of 16.

Jaqueline Cristian Withdraws Due to Injury

World No. 37 Jaqueline Cristian, the top seed at the WTA 250 UniCredit Iași Open, announced her withdrawal
from the tournament on Monday morning due to a knee injury.

Cristian arrived in Iași on Saturday, completed several practice sessions at the Ciric Sports Complex,
and also attended the main draw ceremony.

Following Sunday's evening practice, she experienced pain in her knee and decided to withdraw in order to
avoid aggravating the injury.

"I came to Iași feeling confident and truly happy to return to a tournament that holds many wonderful
memories for me. Unfortunately, a knee problem has prevented me from competing, and I had to withdraw.
I'm very sorry that I won't be able to play in front of the fans, but my health has to come first.

I want to thank everyone for their support and wish the organizers a successful tournament. I hope to
return to Iași soon, healthy and ready to compete again," said Jaqueline Cristian.

At the 2025 edition of the tournament, Cristian reached the semifinals, where she was defeated by eventual
champion Irina Begu.

Gabi Ruse, Miriam Bulgaru and Ilinca Amariei in Action on Tuesday

Tuesday promises another busy day at the Ciric Sports Complex, with 14 matches scheduled:
12 singles main draw matches and two doubles first-round encounters.

Sixth seed Gabriela Ruse will open the action on Centre Court against Spain's Kaitlin Quevedo.

Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva will then face American Claire Liu, followed by Romania's Miriam Bulgaru,
who takes on Elena Pridankina.

Not before 5:30 p.m., former world No. 2 Paula Badosa of Spain will meet fourth seed Anhelina Kalinina
of Ukraine.

In the final Centre Court match of the day, local favourite Ilinca Amariei will play the biggest match
of her career against eighth seed Elsa Jacquemot of France.

Monday, July 13 – Results

Qualifying – Final Round

• [WC] I. Amariei (ROU) def. C. A. Herea (ROU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2


• [1] L. Romero Gormaz (ESP) def. Z. Kulambayeva (KAZ) 6-1, 6-4


• [4] E. Pridankina def. G. Garcia Perez (ESP) 6-1, 6-1


• [5] E. Avanesyan (ARM) def. [WC] I. Fetecău (ROU) 6-2, 6-2


• [2] C. Liu (USA) def. [9] I. Oz (TUR) 6-4, 6-1


• [7] A. Ibragimova def. [3] V. Lepchenko (USA) 6-3, 6-4

Singles – First Round

• [7] A. Bondar (HUN) def. [WC] S. Sorribes Tormo (ESP) 7-5, 6-4


• [WC] C. Burel (FRA) def. [LL] V. Lepchenko (USA) 2-6, 7-5, 6-3


• [2] P. Marcinko (CRO) def. [WC] N. Podoroska (ARG) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4


• A. Charaeva def. V. Jimenez Kasintseva (AND) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles – First Round

• [2] J. Maleckova (CZE) / M. Skoch (CZE) def. [WC] A. I. Anghel (ROU) / D. Simionescu (ROU) 6-1, 6-2


• [3] A. Detiuc (CZE) / I. Khromacheva def. M. Bulgaru (ROU) / M. S. Popa (ROU) 6-3, 6-0


• L. Zaar (SWE) / K. Zimmermann (BEL) def. O. Gavrila (ROU) / A. Prisacariu (ROU) 6-4, 6-3