Cirstea: "Announcing my retirement has liberated me"

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Sorana Cirstea continues to write one of the most remarkable stories of the WTA 1000 Roma 2026. The veteran Romanian player, who has announced that this will be her last year of her professional career, advanced to the quarterfinals after a commanding victory over Noskova. She shared a profound reflection on how facing her last months on the tour has allowed her to mentally free herself and rediscover her enjoyment for tennis.

At 36 years old, Sorana Cirstea is experiencing one of the most solid and consistent moments of her entire career. The Romanian explained in a press conference that she has found a complete balance both on and off the court, allowing her to compete again at the highest level against the best players in the world while serenely facing the final stretch of her professional journey.

A planned retirement that has mentally liberated her

"No, it wasn't a joke. I'm enjoying every week and I come from a place where I really don't feel pressure. I don't want to start putting pressure on myself now. I'm just trying to focus on my tennis and enjoy it."

"I think that, in a way, announcing my retirement freed me a bit. All those expectations vanished because I felt like I no longer had to prove anything. This year is going even better than I expected, and I'm simply enjoying it a lot. I love this sport and I love tennis. For me, being able to continue playing well and have the opportunity to compete in front of the audience in all these cities where I've played for so many years is wonderful."

Maturity and stability as keys to her great season

"I've always been very professional. Although I announced that this will be my last year, I'm still working very hard. I didn't want to come here as a tourist. I wanted to show that I still have the level and that I can compete against the best."

"Now I'm more mature. I know what works for my body, I know what works for my game, and I have a very stable team around me. I feel that everything in my life is settled, and I'm in a very good moment. I think the big difference this year is the consistency. I've always been a very inconsistent player, with many ups and downs, but this season I feel like I've managed to find my level practically every week."

A very personal view of tennis and life

"I don't use ChatGPT or artificial intelligence. I'm quite traditional about those things. I like to read, I like to have a physical book in my hands, and often I even go out without a phone. I like to really live life. I have nothing against those who use artificial intelligence; everyone is free to do what they want, but for me, real connections, emotions, and everything that makes life special are more important. I don't want to be too attached to something artificial."

"I always try to focus on the positives in everything. Even with the issue of betting or negative messages after losing matches, I prefer to focus on the people who have supported me for years and on the fans who love this sport."

A more complete player than ever

"I hope the best version of Sorana is the one now. I feel physically stronger and much smarter on the court. I'm a more complete player, I have more solutions, I'm more consistent, and I have better weapons than years ago."

"I've also worked very hard for over ten years, and I believe that tennis has evolved. I'm very happy to have been able to evolve along with the game. I still feel like I can improve many things. I think I can serve better, return better, move faster, be more aggressive, and take the ball earlier. I still think I have room for improvement."

The future beyond tennis

"Of course, I would like to start a family. I believe that all female athletes think about that at some point, although it's not easy to balance both things because there comes a time when you have to stop. I would also like to remain involved in tennis because this sport has given me everything. I would like to give back some of what I've received and share my experience."

"Returning to the top 20 would mean a lot to me because I feel like I've worked really hard to achieve it, but I also don't want my life to depend on a number. If I finish the season 17th or 21st, my life will remain exactly the same."

Sorana Cirstea is living a sort of second tennis youth in Rome. Freed from pressure and enjoying each tournament as a gift, the Romanian is proving that experience, emotional stability, and maturity can still make a difference in the current women's circuit. Her farewell from professional tennis, far from dimming her, seems to have awakened one of the best versions of her entire career.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Cirstea: "Anunciar mi retirada me ha liberado"