Cirstea: Door Always Open to Reconsider Retiring

By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, May 9, 2026
Photo credit: Robert Prange/Getty

In the stretch run of her career, Sorana Cirstea continues a record-setting pace.

The 36-year-old Cirstea stunned world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 to reach the Rome round of 16 in a thrill ride of a match today.

Winless in six prior matches vs. world No. 1 players, Cirstea was calm at closing. Failing to serve out the match at 5-4, she shut down one of her biggest wins serving at 6-5.

Playing her 20th and final pro season, Cirstea scored her first career 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 capture her fourth career championship at the Transylvania Open.

Now, she’s one win from reaching the Rome quarterfinals for the first time in eight Eternal City appearances.

So could all this success compel Cirstea to change her mind, postpone retirement and play at least another year?

Cirstea said the at the moment she’s committed to retiring at the end of this season, but conceded the door is always open for her to reconsider and play on.

“I know the level is there. I know my mind is here and I’m enjoying everything,” Cirstea said. “Like I said, I have so many goals.

“Every time I step on the court I want to improve. In the same time my mind is quite set that at the end of the year, I want to retire. We will see how this year will go.”

The 2009 Roland Garros quarterfinalist said while she’s planning to retire, she’s open to revising the plan

“Like a little door is there always open because you never know how things go in life,” Cirstea said. “You always plan things, but then it doesn’t always happen like you plan. We will see what life has to offer for me.”