Tennis professional Sorana Cirstea, representing Romania, has publicly requested the return of a championship trophy she reports missing from her New York hotel lodging.
The athlete, aged 35, secured her third career WTA singles victory, marking her first such win since 2021, at the Tennis in the Land tournament held in Cleveland on August 23.
“To the individual who took my Cleveland trophy from room 314 at The Fifty Sonesta, I ask that you return it,” the player, currently ranked number 57 globally, posted on Instagram.
“It possesses little monetary value, holding only sentimental significance! Your cooperation would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.”
Cirstea received the trophy the day before the commencement of the US Open, where she subsequently competed at Flushing Meadows in New York.
She was defeated in the second round of the singles competition by 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova, and in the first round of the doubles competition alongside her partner, Anna Kalinskaya.
This outcome was disappointing for the pair, who had previously claimed victory at the Madrid Open on clay earlier this year.
This was further intensified by the loss of her trophy from the Fifty Sonesta Hotel, where Cirstea was accommodated during her stay in New York.
BBC Sport has reached out to the hotel management for their response to the incident.
