WTA Sorana Cirstea WTA Hong Kong 2026

Cirstea falls in the quarterfinals in Hong Kong and it could have been her last match as a professional

Andrés Tomás Rico - 6 Nov 2026
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Cirstea falls in the quarters in Hong Kong and it could have been her last match as a professional. Photo: Getty Images

If Sorana Cirstea keeps her word from the last year, her career as a professional tennis player has come to an end after losing in the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 in Hong Kong to Alexandra Shubladze, ranked 136 in the WTA rankings, with a clear score of 6-2, 6-3, after one hour and 27 minutes. However, for now, the Romanian has not confirmed that this was her last tournament.

Although Cirstea announced in December 2025 that the 2026 season would be her last, her spectacular year, reaching the quarterfinals of Roland Garros, achieving an important victory against the world number one at that time, Aryna Sabalenka, in the WTA 1000 in Rome, and attaining her best position in the WTA ranking as the 15th best player in the world, made people wonder why she was hanging up her racket this year.

Cirstea may have played her last match as a professional tennis player in Hong Kong

“Of course, this is the question I get asked every week. For now, it doesn't change much. I know the level is there, I know I am mentally fine and that I am enjoying everything. I have so many goals, and every time I step onto the court, I want to improve,” she stated on the day she won against Sabalenka in the WTA 1000 in Rome.

But even with that great victory, she didn't hesitate:  “At the same time, my idea is still to retire at the end of the year. We’ll see how the season goes. There’s always a little door open because you never know how life goes. You can plan things, but then they don’t always happen as you expect. We’ll see what life has in store for me.”

We’ll have to see what the final decision of Sorana Cirstea is, whether she ends her career or, on the contrary, decides to give it another year considering the great level shown throughout 2026.
 

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Cirstea cae en los cuartos de Hong Kong y podría haber sido su último partido como profesional