Sorana Cîrstea says Cleveland tournament trophy was stolen from New York hotel during US Open

Romanian player posted on social media pleading for return of her Tennis in the Land singles trophy after it disappeared from her Midtown Manhattan hotel room while she was competing at the US Open.

Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea said a singles trophy she won at the Tennis in the Land hard-court tournament in Cleveland was taken from her hotel room in New York while she was competing at the U.S. Open, the player wrote on social media. Cîrstea asked whoever had the trophy to return it, saying it held no material value but was of great sentimental importance.

Cîrstea, who was staying at The Fifty Sonesta Hotel New York in Midtown Manhattan, appealed for information on Saturday night, two days after she was eliminated from the U.S. Open singles draw in Flushing, Queens. The hotel did not comment when asked about the matter, according to reporting. Cîrstea posted her plea on Instagram, identifying the room as No. 314 and asking for the trophy to be returned.

"Image: Cîrstea in action against Karolina Muchova at the US Open."

Details and response

In an Instagram story screenshot shared publicly, Cîrstea wrote: “Whoever stole my Cleveland trophy from room 314 at The Fifty Sonesta please give it back! It has NO material value, just sentimental value. It would be [greatly] appreciated!” The post did not indicate whether she had reported the incident to local law enforcement.

The timing of Cîrstea’s post — the weekend after her exit from the Grand Slam tournament — meant the loss came while she remained in the city for the U.S. Open. The 33-year-old has played multiple seasons on the WTA Tour and has collected titles that players commonly keep as mementos of their careers; Cîrstea’s message emphasized the trophy’s personal rather than monetary worth.

The Sonesta-branded Fifty hotel, located in Midtown Manhattan, declined to comment when contacted, according to media reports. The New York Police Department did not immediately provide information to the news organizations that first reported the story, and Cîrstea did not supply additional details about whether hotel security or police had been alerted publicly.

Context and timeline

Cîrstea’s Instagram plea came amid the intense schedule and public scrutiny that accompanies Grand Slam events. She was photographed and filmed during play at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows; the provided imagery shows Cîrstea in match action during the U.S. Open, underlining that the alleged theft occurred while she was competing and staying in the city.

Tennis in the Land is a hard-court tournament staged in Cleveland that draws players preparing for the late-summer North American hard-court swing and the U.S. Open. Players often travel with trophies, awards and personal items while moving between events; those items can carry sentimental significance beyond any resale value. Cîrstea’s public message framed the trophy as an irreplaceable keepsake of a professional achievement.

Cîrstea’s post did not identify any suspects or provide a timeline beyond noting the hotel room and the weekend the post appeared. Media reports citing the player said she was eliminated from the U.S. Open singles draw two days before her public plea. The hotel said it had no comment to reporters seeking confirmation or additional details.

Public and media attention

Social-media posts by athletes, especially during major sporting events, frequently draw swift attention. Public appeals such as Cîrstea’s often prompt responses from fans, staffers, hotel personnel or bystanders who may have seen or handled items; they can also attract media coverage that amplifies the request. In this instance, Cîrstea’s message was circulated by sports outlets and local media, which reported her statement and the hotel’s response.

Cîrstea’s career has included multiple WTA-level finals and titles; players often treasure trophies as markers of professional milestones. Her decision to publicize the loss underlined the personal nature of the item and appealed directly to anyone who might recognize it or have possession of it to return it without involving legal authorities or pursuing financial compensation.

No further developments were reported publicly in the immediate aftermath of Cîrstea’s Instagram story. The player did not follow up with additional details in the same post, and media outlets reported only the initial plea and the hotel’s lack of comment.

Cîrstea’s message was concise and personal, focusing on retrieval rather than blame. Whether the trophy is recovered or whether an investigation will be publicly disclosed remains unclear based on available reporting.

Sources

• https://nypost.com/2025/08/31/sports/sorana-cirstea-has-trophy-stolen-from-hotel-during-us-open/