Cirstea storms into Rome semis in farewell season
The 36-year-old Romanian, set to retire in 2026, is playing some of the best tennis of her career at the Italian Open.
Sorana Cirstea, the 36-year-old Romanian who announced 2026 as her farewell tour, has stormed into the Italian Open semi-finals in Rome with vintage ball-striking and a serve that refuses to wilt. After dismissing a higher-ranked opponent in straight sets, the question hanging over the Foro Italico is whether this late-career renaissance might make her reconsider retirement. Cirstea, a former top-20 player, has never won a WTA 1000 title, but her run through the Rome draw suggests she is peaking at precisely the right moment.
Her court craft and experience have so far been decisive against younger, power-hitting opponents, setting up a semi-final that will test her stamina against another aggressive baseliner. This deep run adds a compelling narrative to the 2026 clay season: a veteran playing the best tennis of her career while planning to walk away. If she wins the title or even reaches the final, it could reshape her legacy and force a difficult decision about postponing retirement.
