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Third-seeded Diana Shnaider captured the Abierto GNP Seguros crown in Monterrey, Mexico, edging fellow Russian and No. 2 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in a hard-fought final on Saturday. Meanwhile, in Cleveland, Romania’s Sorana Cirstea powered past Ann Li 6-2, 6-4 to claim the Tennis in the Land championship. Both victories come just days before the start of the U.S. Open, giving each player a confidence boost heading into New York.
Diana Shnaider Wins Monterrey Title
The 21-year-old Shnaider, ranked No. 22 in the world, secured her first title of the 2025 season and the fifth of her career. After splitting the first two sets, Shnaider opened the decider with a break of Alexandrova’s serve and never looked back.
She landed 72 percent of her first serves in the third set, winning 74 percent of those points while saving both break chances she faced. Shnaider clinched victory on her second match point, becoming the latest champion in Monterrey.
Earlier in the day, Alexandrova had to finish her rain-delayed semifinal against Marie Bouzkova, winning the first set 6-3 before Bouzkova retired. That match likely took a toll heading into the final.
Shnaider will now shift to the U.S. Open, where she is seeded 20th and opens against Germany’s Laura Siegemund. Alexandrova, seeded 13th, begins her campaign against Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova.
Monterrey Final Stats
| Player | Aces | Break Points Saved | First Serve % (3rd set) | Titles Career/2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diana Shnaider | 3 | 2/2 | 72% | 5 / 1 |
| Ekaterina Alexandrova | 5 | 4/7 | 61% | 5 / 0 |
Shnaider’s strong serving under pressure highlighted her growth, while Alexandrova’s semifinal workload may have made the difference in a close third set.
Sorana Cirstea Triumphs in Cleveland
At Tennis in the Land, Romania’s Sorana Cirstea claimed her third WTA title — and first since 2021 — with a straight-sets victory over Ann Li. Cirstea, ranked No. 112, played with poise and aggression, breaking Li twice in the first set and once in the second.
Though Li saved three match points late in the second set and had two chances to break back at 5-4, Cirstea held firm and sealed the win on her fifth opportunity. Remarkably, she was never broken during the match and dominated on Li’s second serve, winning 16 of 26 points.
Cirstea heads to the U.S. Open to face Argentina’s Solana Sierra in the first round, while Li will meet Slovakia’s Rachel Sramkova.
Cleveland Final Stats
| Player | Aces | Breaks Won | Breaks Faced | WTA Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sorana Cirstea | 7 | 3/7 | 0/1 | 3 |
| Ann Li | 2 | 0/1 | 3/7 | 0 |
Cirstea’s return game and composure on serve made the difference, showing why her experience still matters on the WTA Tour.
Looking Ahead to the US Open
With Shnaider and Cirstea both lifting trophies right before the year’s final Grand Slam, they enter New York with strong momentum. Shnaider will look to build on her breakout 2024 season, while Cirstea has the opportunity to prove she still belongs on the sport’s biggest stage.
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