Tennis: Sorana Cirstea withdraws from Fed Cup team after 12 years

Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea is to withdraw from the Fed Cup team, after 12 years during which she played for Romania

Sorana Cîrstea, 85th WTA, has announced on Monday her withdrawal from the Romanian team for the Fed Cup, without offering a clear reason for her decision, digi24.ro reports.

“After 12 years of playing for Romania, it is time to officially announce my withdrawal from the Fed Cup national team. I was 16 years and 14 days old when I played the first match, being up to date the youngest debutant in our country’s tennis history. I proudly represented the national flag every time I had the opportunity. I feel like I have done my duty, and now is the time to let the new generation take over. I would like to thank the teammates, the federation, the captains, the coaches and all those who have counted to our success! But especially the Romanians who have supported me so well over the years,” Cîrstea wrote on Facebook.

Sorana Cirstea, 28, has played 17 singles matches for Romania, of which she won 11 and 12 matches in the doubles, with she and her pair winning 5 times.

The last time she played on the doubles, was in pair with Mihaela Buzarnescu against Switzerland (3-1) in the play-off for the World Group. The Romanian pair lost the match at the time to Viktorija Golubic and Jil Teichmann, but the final result did not matter much as Romania had already won the encounter.

The next Fed Cup match for Romania is against title holders Czech Republic, in Ostrava, during February 9-10, in the quarter-finals of World Group.