Sorana Cirstea Appeals for Return of Stolen Trophy During US Open in New York

Romanian tennis player Sorana Cirstea has publicly appealed for the return of her trophy stolen from her New York hotel room during the 2025 U.S. Open. The trophy, representing her breakthrough victory at the Tennis in the Land championship in Cleveland and her first singles title since 2021, was taken from room 314 at The Fifty Sonesta hotel. Cirstea, who lost in the second round of the U.S. Open singles and first round in doubles, emphasized the trophy's sentimental value in her Instagram plea. The theft raises concerns about hotel security and the protection of athletes' personal items during major tournaments. Both Newsweek and BBC Sport have reached out to the hotel for comments, highlighting the broader implications of the incident. Despite the loss, Cirstea's recent Cleveland win marked a significant career milestone, boosting her WTA ranking.