Last week the city of Budapest in Hungary played host to a WTA tournament totaling 226,750 dollars in prize money. Romania\u2019s representatives in the tournament, Mihaela Buzarnescu and Irina Bara, had an excellent run, reaching the women\u2019s doubles semi-finals. For their achievement, we have designated them Athletes of the Week on Radio Romania International.<\/p>\n
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In the main draw\u2019s first round, Mihaela and Irina knocked out Ana Blinkova of Russia and Draija Jurak of Croatia, 7-6, 6-1. In the quarterfinals the Romanian players edged out third-seeds Natela Dzalamidze of Russia and Oksana Kalashnikova of Georgia, 6-3, 7-5. In the semi-finals Mihaela and Irina lost to Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium and Johanna Larsson of Sweden, 6-7, 6-4, 10-5.<\/p>\n
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Left-handed Mihaela Buzarnescu was born in 1988 in Bucharest. Her best performance in under-21 competitions was winning the US Open women\u2019s doubles in 2006, together with another Romanian, Raluca Olaru. In the women\u2019s singles she is the fourth Romanian tennis player to rank among the world\u2019s top 50, being ranked 38th, her career best. Simona Halep is the world\u2019s number one, Sorana Cirstea is ranked 35th, while Irina Begu is 36th-placed. Buzarnescu is also the fourth Romanian tennis player in the doubles standings, where she is ranked 72nd. Monica Niculescu is in 17th place, Irina Begu is ranked 28th and Raluca Olaru is 48th. Let us also note that Mihaela Buzarnescu holds a PhD in Physical Training and Sports. Her doctoral thesis was focused on improving tennis play in young players by developing their motor and psychological skills.<\/p>\n
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Irina Bara was born on March 18, 1995 in Stei, western Romania. Bara specializes in ITF circuits, and has eight wins in singles competitions and 24 in the doubles. She made her debut in a WTA tournament in 2015, in the doubles of the Bucharest Open, alongside Mihaela Buzarnescu. Since then she has constantly climbed the ranks, and is now in 112th place, after going up 13 notches this week alone. In the singles standings she is ranked 167th.<\/p>\n
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(Translated by V. Palcu<\/em>)<\/p>\n
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