Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea came back to defeat Yuan Yue of China 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-4 in the women's singles third round at the WTA Cincinnati Open in Mason, Ohio, on Monday, advancing to round of 16 at the tournament.

Neither scored a break in the first nine games, but Cirstea came close to breaking Yuan in the 10th when she led 5-4. Yuan saved a set point and held to tie it 5-5. Both scored their first break in the following two games to force a tibreaker that Yuan claimed 7-2.

Yuan had a good start in the second set as she broke her opponent twice, but Cirstea soon broke back and took advantage of Yuan's increasing unforced errors to clinch the set 6-4.

Yuan began the third set with a 2-0 advantage, but the 26-year-old Chinese then allowed five straight games by Cirstea. Though Yuan took two games in a row to keep the competition alive, she couldn't stop Cirstea from holding in the 10th to seal the deal.

The 35-year-old Romanian will face third-seeded Pole Iga Swiatek in the last 16.