Game plan
Sorana Cirstea v Qinwen Zheng
Every number combines what Sorana Cirstea does well with what Qinwen Zheng allows, each measured against the tour average and shrunk toward it when the sample is thin. Flip perspective
Forecast
Each player's serve and return strength is fitted against every opponent they were charted against, so a record built on weak opponents counts for less. Both were charted enough in the last three seasons, so those carry the most weight. The result is then nudged by Sorana Cirstea's record against Qinwen Zheng's tactical lookalikes and in their charted head-to-heads (lookalikes: +6.8 on serve, +13.8 on return vs expectation (92 points); head-to-head: −9.6 on serve, −1.4 on return vs expectation (102 points)). A game-by-game Markov chain turns point odds into match odds; the 90% range covers the uncertainty in the two strengths, not the nudges. Charted matches lean toward big events, so treat this as a scouting estimate, not a betting line.
Head to head, per 100 shots
| Career | Sorana | Qinwen |
|---|---|---|
| Direction choice | +0.03 ±0.08 better than 59% | +0.01 ±0.05 better than 53% |
| Shot selection | +0.24 ±0.14 better than 71% | +0.42 ±0.08 better than 91% |
| Execution | −0.19 ±0.44 better than 51% | −0.51 ±0.36 better than 32% |
| Points left on the table | 2.62 ±0.13 lower than 49% | 2.65 ±0.09 lower than 43% |
Each player's career against an average tour player in the same position, adjusted for opponent strength, with a 90% margin (shots clustered by match). Points left on the table is the gap to the best-value direction for the same stroke, so lower is better. Percentiles are within each player's own tour. A side is highlighted only when the gap is larger than the margin on the difference.
Structural compatibility
Expected edge per 100 rally shots from style alone: Sorana Cirstea −1.41, Qinwen Zheng −0.38. Each player's shot mix weighted by their own skill with each shot and by how much the other gives up against it. This is why some rankings gaps don't hold in a given matchup.
Serve plan
The share of points the server wins when a first serve lands in that direction (hover a rate for its 90% interval; ± is the 90% margin). "Matchup" combines the server's rate with how this returner handles that serve. "Optimal" is the mix that wins most against this returner once they start reading a habit, at the response measured across the tour, and only within the range servers' habits actually vary. The gain over the current mix is how exploitable that mix is.
Sorana Cirstea serving
Deuce court
| 1st serve | Now | Sorana wins | v Qinwen | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 45% | 68% | 64% | 66.3%±5.0 | 60% ▲ |
| Body | 17% | 55% | 53% | 50.7%±7.4 | 2% ▼ |
| T | 37% | 69% | 65% | 66.6%±6.2 | 38% |
Optimal v Qinwen Zheng: +0.6±0.9 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix, inside the 90% margin. Serving T every time would read +2.9 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Ad court
| 1st serve | Now | Sorana wins | v Qinwen | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 47% | 66% | 60% | 60.5%±5.7 | 46% |
| Body | 18% | 48% | 55% | 47.1%±8.2 | 3% ▼ |
| T | 35% | 61% | 66% | 62.5%±6.5 | 51% ▲ |
Optimal v Qinwen Zheng: +0.7±1.0 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix, inside the 90% margin. Serving T every time would read +3.7 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Qinwen Zheng serving
Deuce court
| 1st serve | Now | Qinwen wins | v Sorana | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 47% | 73% | 66% | 73.6%±4.6 | 62% ▲ |
| Body | 9% | 59% | 53% | 54.8%±8.7 | 0% ▼ |
| T | 43% | 77% | 69% | 78.4%±4.9 | 38% ▼ |
Optimal v Sorana Cirstea: +0.8±0.7 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix. Serving T every time would read +4.4 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Ad court
| 1st serve | Now | Qinwen wins | v Sorana | Matchup | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | 50% | 74% | 65% | 73.1%±5.2 | 43% ▼ |
| Body | 8% | 60% | 64% | 68.2%±9.2 | 0% ▼ |
| T | 42% | 73% | 64% | 73.1%±5.2 | 57% ▲ |
Optimal v Sorana Cirstea: +0.2±0.8 per 100 first serves (faults included) over the current mix, inside the 90% margin. Serving wide every time would read +0.4 per 100 first serves in before the returner adjusts.
Return plan
Value of each return, in points per 100 returns against an average return of the same serve (direction, court, surface): the tour's result with that return, the returner's own edge with it, and what this server gives up when it comes back to that side. Returns with no charted direction are left out, so values compare with each other rather than with zero. Depth isn't a choice here: missed returns have no depth. Serve quality isn't charted, so a block through the middle partly reflects the serve that forced it.
Sorana Cirstea returning
1st serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Qinwen | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH through the middle | 41% | +4.2 | −1.1 | −1.3 | +1.8±2.3 |
| FH down the line | 25% | +1.5 | −0.7 | −1.3 | −0.4±4.3 |
| FH crosscourt | 15% | +5.3 | +2.9 | −2.1 | +6.1±4.1 |
| FH slice through the middle | 11% | −6.7 | −1.5 | −0.8 | −9.0±2.4 |
| FH slice crosscourt | 4% | −6.6 | +0.4 | −0.4 | −6.7±2.7 |
Lean FH crosscourt: +6.2±3.8 per 100 returns v the current mix (612 returns charted)
1st serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Qinwen | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH through the middle | 47% | +6.0 | +0.7 | −1.9 | +4.8±2.2 |
| BH crosscourt | 31% | +7.7 | +0.6 | −3.9 | +4.5±3.2 |
| BH down the line | 14% | +2.2 | −1.3 | −3.7 | −2.8±4.6 |
| BH slice crosscourt | 3% | −4.2 | −0.2 | −0.3 | −4.8±2.8 |
| BH slice through the middle | 3% | −6.2 | +0.7 | −2.8 | −8.4±2.4 |
Lean BH through the middle: +2.2±1.7 per 100 returns v the current mix (534 returns charted)
2nd serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Qinwen | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH through the middle | 44% | −3.2 | +0.7 | +0.6 | −1.9±2.7 |
| FH crosscourt | 30% | +0.5 | −2.1 | −0.6 | −2.2±4.2 |
| FH down the line | 23% | −0.6 | −0.9 | +0.9 | −0.5±5.1 |
| FH slice through the middle | 3% | −15.2 | −0.9 | ±0.0 | −16.1±1.9 |
Lean FH down the line: +1.5±4.3 per 100 returns v the current mix (189 returns charted, inside the 90% margin)
2nd serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Qinwen | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH crosscourt | 48% | +1.5 | −0.3 | −0.3 | +0.9±3.0 |
| BH through the middle | 42% | −2.6 | +0.9 | −0.3 | −1.9±2.3 |
| BH down the line | 10% | −0.5 | −2.4 | +1.3 | −1.5±4.7 |
Lean BH crosscourt: +1.5±1.9 per 100 returns v the current mix (271 returns charted, inside the 90% margin)
Qinwen Zheng returning
1st serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Sorana | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH through the middle | 54% | +4.2 | +0.4 | −1.4 | +3.1±2.1 |
| FH down the line | 26% | +1.5 | −2.7 | −0.2 | −1.4±4.1 |
| FH crosscourt | 13% | +5.3 | −0.3 | +5.0 | +10.0±4.1 |
| FH slice through the middle | 4% | −6.7 | −0.9 | +1.9 | −5.7±2.5 |
| FH slice crosscourt | 2% | −6.6 | +0.3 | −0.1 | −6.5±2.5 |
Lean FH crosscourt: +7.8±3.9 per 100 returns v the current mix (687 returns charted)
1st serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Sorana | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH through the middle | 51% | +6.0 | −0.5 | −1.1 | +4.5±2.0 |
| BH down the line | 26% | +2.2 | −0.4 | −0.1 | +1.7±4.2 |
| BH crosscourt | 16% | +7.7 | +1.6 | −1.0 | +8.3±3.4 |
| BH slice through the middle | 3% | −6.2 | +0.1 | +1.9 | −4.2±2.4 |
| BH slice down the line | 2% | −12.5 | −0.9 | −0.3 | −13.7±3.2 |
Lean BH crosscourt: +4.9±3.2 per 100 returns v the current mix (637 returns charted)
2nd serve to the forehand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Sorana | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH through the middle | 40% | −3.2 | +0.3 | −1.4 | −4.3±2.9 |
| FH crosscourt | 33% | +0.5 | −0.1 | +1.2 | +1.7±4.3 |
| FH down the line | 27% | −0.6 | −0.1 | +0.8 | +0.1±5.1 |
Lean FH crosscourt: +2.9±3.4 per 100 returns v the current mix (178 returns charted, inside the 90% margin)
2nd serve to the backhand
| Return | Now | Tour | Own | v Sorana | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BH through the middle | 37% | −2.6 | −0.8 | +1.6 | −1.8±2.4 |
| BH crosscourt | 30% | +1.5 | +0.2 | −2.2 | −0.5±3.2 |
| BH down the line | 21% | −0.5 | −4.1 | +0.9 | −3.7±5.0 |
| FH through the middle | 5% | −2.7 | +1.7 | −1.4 | −2.4±2.4 |
| FH inside-in | 4% | +0.7 | −0.5 | +1.2 | +1.5±4.2 |
| FH inside-out | 4% | +1.4 | −0.3 | +0.8 | +1.8±3.9 |
Lean FH inside-out: +3.4±4.1 per 100 returns v the current mix (389 returns charted, inside the 90% margin)
Rally plan
Edge, in points per 100 shots: the hitter's skill with the shot (own) plus how much the receiver usually gives up against it (theirs), both measured against the tour average on clay. Each player's clay record is shrunk toward their all-surface one, so a thin sample on it moves the numbers only a little.
Sorana Cirstea
Favour
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| FH to the middle · return +1 | +3.4±3.4 | +2.4 | +1.0 |
| FH to the middle · serve +1 | +1.9±3.1 | +2.2 | −0.3 |
| FH to their backhand · return +1 | +1.2±5.1 | +1.2 | ±0.0 |
| BH to their backhand · return +1 | +0.9±4.2 | +0.2 | +0.7 |
| FH to their forehand · rally | +0.6±3.6 | +1.0 | −0.4 |
| FH to their forehand · serve +1 | +0.1±4.5 | −1.3 | +1.4 |
Avoid
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| BH to their backhand · return | −5.0±3.4 | ±0.0 | −5.0 |
| FH to their backhand · return | −4.4±5.1 | −4.9 | +0.5 |
| BH to their forehand · serve +1 | −3.8±5.7 | −1.6 | −2.2 |
| FH to the middle · rally | −3.6±2.8 | −2.7 | −0.9 |
| FH to the middle · return | −3.1±3.0 | −1.4 | −1.6 |
Qinwen Zheng
Favour
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| BH to their forehand · return +1 | +5.9±6.3 | +1.9 | +3.9 |
| BH to their backhand · rally | +4.2±3.1 | +0.4 | +3.7 |
| FH to their backhand · return +1 | +2.5±4.7 | −0.7 | +3.2 |
| FH to their backhand · serve +1 | +2.0±4.4 | +0.4 | +1.6 |
| FH to the middle · return +1 | +1.6±3.4 | −0.3 | +2.0 |
| FH to the middle · return | +1.5±2.7 | +1.4 | +0.1 |
Avoid
| Shot | Edge | Own | Theirs |
|---|---|---|---|
| BH to their forehand · rally | −7.1±5.0 | −6.0 | −1.1 |
| BH slice to their backhand · rally | −6.1±4.1 | −4.1 | −2.0 |
| BH to their forehand · serve +1 | −4.8±6.0 | −3.4 | −1.4 |
| FH to their forehand · return +1 | −3.4±4.5 | +0.4 | −3.8 |
| FH to their backhand · return | −3.2±4.7 | −2.1 | −1.2 |
Against Qinwen Zheng-like opponents
| Sorana Cirstea v | Matches | Serve pts won | Return pts won |
|---|---|---|---|
| All charted opponents | – | 56.5% | 42.3% |
| Players most similar to Qinwen Zheng | 1 | 63.6% | 58.3% |
| Qinwen Zheng (charted head-to-head) | 1 | 45.3% | 40.8% |
Similar by tactical fingerprint: Donna Vekic, Xin Yu Wang, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Rebecca Sramkova, Dayana Yastremska, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart, Ana Ivanovic. When two players have rarely met, their records against these lookalikes fill the gap.