Sorana Cirstea has concluded her professional tennis career following a defeat in the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Tennis Open. The 36-year-old Romanian fell to Russian qualifier Alexandra Shubladze in straight sets, 2:6, 3:6, bringing a close to a career that spanned nearly two decades on the WTA Tour, SPORT1 reported.
Defeat in Hong Kong marks final match
The match lasted one hour and 27 minutes as Cirstea, the top-seeded player in the tournament and ranked 15th in the world, struggled to find her rhythm against the 21-year-old Shubladze. The Russian challenger dominated the early stages, securing the first four games of the opening set. Although Cirstea managed to rally in the second set to level the score at 3:3, she was unable to sustain the momentum. Shubladze capitalized on her opportunities, winning the final three games of the match to secure her first-ever victory over a top-20 opponent and a place in her maiden WTA semifinal.
Retirement plans confirmed in farewell season
Cirstea had previously signaled that 2026 would be her final year on the professional circuit. Throughout her farewell season, she maintained a high level of performance, reaching a career-high ranking of world No. 15. Her campaign included a notable title victory at the tournament in her home city of Cluj-Napoca. In May, during the Italian Open in Rome, Cirstea defeated then-world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set comeback, 2:6, 6:3, 7:5, marking the first time she had defeated a reigning top-ranked player.
Reflections on a professional journey
During the Rome tournament, Cirstea addressed questions regarding her impending retirement, acknowledging the difficulty of the decision. “Everyone told me: ‘You can’t stop, you can’t stop.’ But my decision is final,” she stated at the time. Despite the certainty of her plans, she maintained a focused approach to her final months on tour, noting that she continued to set specific goals and followed a daily plan on the court until her final appearance.
reflecting on notable career achievements and final matches
Cirstea’s professional tenure saw her compete at the highest levels of the sport, characterized by a persistent work ethic that she maintained even in her final months. Her victory over Sabalenka in Rome remains a standout achievement of her later career, highlighting her ability to compete with the world's elite players despite her status as a veteran on the tour. The match in Hong Kong serves as the final official entry in a career that saw her reach the top 15 of the WTA rankings in her final season.
Worth a look
