Sorana Cirstea has plenty to think about after a stunning victory over Aryna Sabalenka at the Italian Open—a win that might just make her reconsider her retirement plans.
The 36-year-old Romanian, who has been a staple on the WTA Tour since 2006, announced last December that 2026 would be her final season. Yet, her recent surge has turned heads. Back in July, she was languishing outside the top 160. Now, after claiming her fourth WTA title and toppling the world No. 2 in Rome, Cirstea is on the verge of breaking into the top 20 for the first time in her career.
Following the match, Sabalenka jokingly suggested Cirstea should postpone her retirement, and the idea has clearly sparked some reflection. When reporters relayed Sabalenka's comments during Cirstea's press conference, she didn't shut the door entirely.
"Yeah, of course this is the question that I'm getting every week (smiling)," Cirstea said. "At the moment, not much is changing. Of course, it's a wonderful victory, but it's still a third round. I have to keep going. I know the level is there. I know my mind is here, and I'm enjoying everything. 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. Like a little door is there always open because you never know how things go in life. You always plan things, but then it doesn't always happen like you plan. We will see what life has to offer for me."
Cirstea has already matched her best result at the Italian Open by reaching the fourth round, and she's hungry for more. Next up is Linda Noskova, a 19-year-old Czech rising star who stands between Cirstea and her first-ever quarterfinal appearance in Rome. The two have met three times already this season, making this a familiar yet pivotal clash. Cirstea leads their 2024 encounters 2-1, but the overall head-to-head is deadlocked at two wins apiece.
Interestingly, this will be their first meeting on clay—all previous battles unfolded on hard courts. Noskova, who had a slow start to the season, will be looking to turn the tables on the veteran. For Cirstea, it's another chance to prove that age is just a number and that sometimes, the best comebacks are the ones you never saw coming.