Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva began her Iasi Open campaign with a commanding straight-sets victory over Romanian teenager Giulia Safina Popa in the first round of the WTA 125 tournament held in Iasi, Romania. The 19-year-old from Andorra posted a 6-2, 7-5 win on Tuesday, ending the dream run of the 15-year-old qualifier who was making her main-draw debut at this level.
Popa had become one of the youngest players to qualify for a WTA 125 event this year, drawing local attention after grinding through the qualifying rounds with back-to-back three-set victories. Despite the home support, she was unable to match the consistency and experience of Jimenez Kasintseva, who secured her first main-draw win since Madrid.
In the opening set, the Andorran broke Popa’s serve twice and cruised through with a mix of angled shots and deep groundstrokes. The second set proved more competitive, with the Romanian showing flashes of promise, even holding a late break point at 5-5. But Jimenez Kasintseva stayed composed, saving the break and then closing out the match with a clean service game.
Speaking after the match, Jimenez Kasintseva acknowledged Popa’s potential, saying the young Romanian showed impressive composure for her age and could be a future star on tour. The win sets her up for a second-round clash against Romania’s top seed Irina-Camelia Begu, a former champion in Iasi who will have the crowd firmly behind her.
Despite the loss, Popa’s performance has not gone unnoticed. At just 15, her presence in the main draw of a WTA event is a sign of her growing promise. Coaches and fans alike praised her footwork, natural instinct, and competitive spirit. She is expected to gain further wildcards and opportunities on the ITF and WTA circuits.
The Iasi Open continues this week with strong local participation and several top 100 players using the clay event as preparation for the North American hard court swing. With rising stars like Jimenez Kasintseva and emerging talents like Popa, the tournament is shaping up as a showcase of the next generation in women’s tennis.
