Miriam Bulgaru came to Cluj for the start of the Transylvania Open at a very good point in her career. The 2023 season is her best in the WTA circuit, and this gives her confidence and motivation to go even further.
Miriam, who hails from Alba Iulia, expects to have the support of some hometown fans and will open against Ipek Oz, a player who came through the qualifiers. Their match is scheduled for today, not before 6:00 PM.
Miriam, how do you feel about the draw in Cluj, and what is your current form?
I feel great, physically I’m in good shape, and I prepared well for the tournament, arriving here several days in advance. I like the surface; this style of play with spins suits me better. I’m pleased with that because I’m not a huge fan of hard indoor courts. I prefer clay, but here it’s something different, and it was a pleasant surprise, especially as I had a few days to get acquainted with the surface.
The draw is accessible, of course. Not that I’m a favorite, everyone plays well at this level, everyone wants to win, so you always have to be at 100%.
What do you hope to showcase in Cluj? What’s your mindset coming into this tournament?
I want to display very good tennis, perhaps even my best tennis because I’m coming off the best period of my career, with my first WTA semifinal in Ljubljana, following a final in a 60k ITF tournament in Vienna. Now, I want to show a high level at a larger WTA event, the Cluj 250. I want to delight the people who come to watch, especially since it’s close to Alba Iulia, my hometown, and there will be a lot of people in the stands. I see this as a very positive thing, and I want to create an energy between me and the audience, especially since my style is more about entertainment.
It’s your first time at the Cluj tournament. What do you think of the atmosphere?
Everything seems great to me; it’s all at a high level. I’m glad to see something like this in my Transylvania. You feel that everyone wants to help you, to make you feel good as a player. Having such a tournament in Romania is an advantage for me and my generation, and I hope we can capitalize on this opportunity. It’s also a special opportunity to connect with the audience. I’ve played more abroad, where you might have a few fans, but here, a lot of people can come, and that can help, it can even change the outcome of a match.
There are a few weeks and tournaments left in 2023. How do you assess the balance of this season?
I would say it’s been the best year of my career. I played at two Grand Slam tournaments and participated in some big events, and experiences I dreamed of since I was a child. These are experiences that motivate me immensely. I want to stay in the WTA world as long as possible.
