Tennis player Sorana Cirstea has announced her immediate retirement from the sport following her defeat at the Hong Kong Tennis Open. The 36-year-old Romanian, ranked world No. 15, lost to Alexandra Shubladze 6-2, 6-3 in what is now her final professional match.
The retirement comes as a surprise to many, given Cirstea's strong performance throughout the season. She achieved a career-high ranking within the world's top 15 this year, a notable feat for a player in her mid-thirties. She is one of the few women over 36 to finish a season ranked in the top 16 in the last 40 years, joining the ranks of Serena and Venus Williams, and Martina Navratilova.
Cirstea, the top seed at the Hong Kong tournament, had previously stated that 2026 would be her final year on the tour. Despite the announcement, many fans and journalists expressed hope that she might reconsider.
"If this was really her last match … what a farewell season she had!" commented journalist Jose Morgado. Another fan wrote, "What a great season Cirstea has had. I’d honestly love to see her compete for one more season."
Cirstea's recent successes include reaching the semi-finals at the Italian Open, where she defeated then-World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. This victory marked the first time a woman over 30 achieved a career-first win against a reigning No. 1 in the Open era.
Fans and colleagues alike have acknowledged her competitive spirit and the joy she brought to the court throughout her career, wishing her well in her future endeavors.