Sorana Cirstea Ends Professional Tennis Career With Defeat in Hong Kong

Sorana Cirstea concluded her professional tennis career on a bitter note, suffering a surprising 6-2, 6-3 defeat to 136th-ranked Alexandra Shubaladze of Russia in the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong tournament. According to international media reports, this marked the final appearance of her career, as the 36-year-old Romanian had previously announced that the 2026 season would be her last on the tour.

The elimination comes as a surprise given Cirstea's stellar season, during which she reached a career milestone by cementing her place in the top 15 of the world rankings. She became one of only three female tennis players in the past four decades, alongside Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and Martina Navratilova, to finish a season inside the top 16 at age 36 or older.

Cirstea also registered several notable achievements this year, including a victory over then-world number one Aryna Sabalenka at the Rome tournament. Following the triumph, she became the oldest Romanian in the Open Era to secure a career-first win against a reigning world number one. She also reached the semifinals at the same tournament, proving she could still compete with the world's best.

The retirement decision was not entirely new. Back in December 2025, Cirstea announced that 2026 would be her farewell season after two decades on the professional circuit. Following the defeat in Hong Kong, she confirmed her decision was final. "Considering what happened to me recently, I think the decision is quite easy," she said. "I have no energy left. It has been a long year."