Cirstea – Adidas “were telling me it’s better to be beautiful in top 10, top 20 than less beautiful and No 1”

The Romanian star hits out at Adidas for valuing players more for their looks than their athleticism.

Sorana Cirstea

November 2, 2022

Sorana Cirstea, speaking on the Romanian Podcast “La Fileu” says that Adidas valued beauty more than results when it came to her tennis career.

The 32-year-old world No 38 says the brand, which formerly sponsored her, focused more on her looks than her tennis.

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“I remember, for example, when I had a contract with Adidas, considering that I look fairly good for an athlete, they were telling me that it’s better to look good and be in the top 20 than to not look that good and be No. 1,” Cirstea told the podcast.

“When you are in the top 20 you are seen anyway, you are there at every tournament, and they were telling me it’s better to be beautiful in top 10, top 20 than less beautiful and No. 1.

“Of course, you realise they have their own quotas, it’s a market.”

Cirstea, a former world No 21, is currently sponsored by New Balance.