Irina Begu

Three Romanian tennis players: Irina Begu, Andreea Mitu and Raluca Olaru advanced to the second round of the women's doubles event at the US Open, the last Grand Slam tournament of the year, after wins on Thursday in New York. Irina Begu and Andreea Mitu beat the Caroline Garcia (France) / Nadia Podoroska (Argentina) duo 6-4 7-6 (4), in an hour and 45 minutes.

Chairman of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee (COSR) Mihai Covaliu tells AGERPRES in an interview that he is convinced Romanian athletes will stop in Tokyo the decline in the tally of Olympic medals that started in Sydney 2000. He says that in order to bring joy to Romanians, COSR needs the support of the government and its partners.

Romanian-American pair Irina Bara/Varvara Lepchenko on Tuesday qualified for the quarterfinals of the doubles event of the WTA 250 tennis tournament in Gdynia (Poland), with total prizes of 235,238 dollars, after defeating 7-6 (3), 7-6 (6) Polish Ania Hertel/Martyna Kubka. Bara and Lepchenko sealed their victory after almost two hours of playing (1 h 53 min).

Romanian tennis player Irina Begu qualified for the second round of the Wimbledon tour, the third Grand Slam of the year, after defeating Katie Volynets (USA) by 6-4, 7-5, on Monday, in London. Begu (30 years old, #79 WTA) obtained victory after one hour and 38 minutes. The Romanian was led in the first set by 3-1 and 4-2, but managed to return and to win by 6-4, after four consecutive games.

Romanian tennis player Irina Begu qualified for the quarterfinals of the Phillip Island Trophy (WTA 250), with total prizes of 235,238 US dollars, after defeating Chinese Qiang Wang, 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-1, in Melbourne, on Tuesday. Begu (30, WTA's 74) needed two hours and 15 minutes to win the match against seed no. 1, after being led 3-1 and 5-3 in the first set.

Romanian tennis players Patricia Tig and Irina Begu on Monday advanced to the women's singles third round of the 235,238- USD Phillip Island Trophy WTA 250 tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia. Twenty-six-year old Tig, world number 56, defeated in the second round British Francesca Jones, 20, world number 245 WTA, 6-1 6-4 in an hour and 24 minutes.

Five Romanian players, Patricia Tig, Irina Begu, Ana Bogdan, Mihaela Buzarnescu and Monica Niculescu, will participate in the Phillip Island Trophy (WTA 250) tournament, with total prizes of 235,238 US dollars, which will debut in Melbourne on Saturday. Buzarnescu and Niculescu will play in the qualifiers, while Tig, Begu and Bogdan entered directly on the main board.

Romanian tennis player Simona Halep will play Australian Lizette Cabrera in the first round of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, which will start on Monday in Melbourne, according to the draw on Friday. 2020 semi-finalist Halep, 29, will meet for the first time wildcard Cabrera, 23, world number 140.

Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, world number two, on Wednesday advanced to the singles quarter-finals of the 565,530-USD Gippsland Trophy WTA 500 tennis tournament after defeating German Laura Siegemund 6-2 6-4. Top-seed Halep, 29, prevailed in an hour and 33 minutes. The former world number one started the game strong and led 4-0, finishing the first set 6-2, after 39 minutes.

Romanian tennis player Irina Begu qualified for the quarterfinals of the Gippsland Trophy (WTA) tournament in Melbourne on Wednesday, with total prizes of 565,530 dollars, by beating the British Johanna Konta, the 5th seed, 4-6, 7-6 (10), 7-6 (4).