Cirstea's last Grand Slam ends against Pegula

Jessica Pegula continues to advance in the US Open 2026 at cruising speed. The American defeated Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 6-4 in the round of 16, securing her place among the tournament's top eight. This victory also held special significance, as it marked the last Grand Slam match in the Romanian player's career, who announced her retirement at the end of the season.

Pegula once again demonstrated her solidity in New York, resolving the match in two sets and avoiding greater fatigue after needing three sets to overcome Leylah Fernandez in the previous round. The American controlled the crucial moments and ultimately closed out a victory that keeps her alive in her quest for the decisive rounds of the tournament.

Cirstea's Last Dance at Grand Slam

For Sorana Cirstea, the match marked the end of her journey in the four majors. The Romanian, who had caused one of the surprises of the third round by eliminating Jasmine Paolini, concluded her participation in New York after reaching the round of 16. At 36 years old, Cirstea is facing her final months as a professional before closing a career that began in 2006 and took her to number 21 in the world ranking. The US Open thus becomes the last Grand Slam for a player who has competed at the highest level for nearly two decades.

Pegula, for her part, continues to move steadily in Flushing Meadows and has already secured a place in the quarterfinals. The American is now awaiting her opponent from the matchup between Anna Kalinskaya and Emma Navarro, from which her next competitor will emerge. The goal is to keep advancing in a tournament where she still harbors hopes of reaching the final rounds.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El último Grand Slam de Cirstea termina ante Pegula