By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, Could 9, 2026
Photograph credit score: Robert Prange/Getty
Within the stretch run of her profession, Sorana Cirstea continues a record-setting tempo.
The 36-year-old Cirstea surprised world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 to achieve the Rome spherical of 16 in a thrill trip of a match right this moment.
Winless in six prior matches vs. world No. 1 gamers, Cirstea was calm at closing. Failing to serve out the match at 5-4, she shut down one among her greatest wins serving at 6-5.
Enjoying her twentieth and last professional season, Cirstea scored her first profession win over a world No. 1—and continued her success in her farewell season. In February, Cirstea crushed 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu 6-0, 6-2, to seize her fourth profession championship on the Transylvania Open.
Now, she’s one win from reaching the Rome quarterfinals for the primary time in eight Everlasting Metropolis appearances.
So might all this success compel Cirstea to vary her thoughts, postpone retirement and play at the very least one other 12 months?
Cirstea mentioned the in the meanwhile she’s dedicated to retiring on the finish of this season, however conceded the door is at all times open for her to rethink and play on.
“I do know the extent is there. I do know my thoughts is right here and I’m having fun with all the pieces,” Cirstea mentioned. “Like I mentioned, I’ve so many objectives.
“Each time I step on the court docket I need to enhance. In the identical time my thoughts is sort of set that on the finish of the 12 months, I need to retire. We are going to see how this 12 months will go.”
The 2009 Roland Garros quarterfinalist mentioned whereas she’s planning to retire, she’s open to revising the plan
“Like a bit door is there at all times open since you by no means know the way issues go in life,” Cirstea mentioned. “You at all times plan issues, however then it doesn’t at all times occur such as you plan. We are going to see what life has to supply for me.”
