Retiring cirstea

Sorana Cirstea produced one of the biggest upsets of the season after battling back from a set and a break down to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 and advance to the Round of 16 at the Italian Open 2026 in Rome on Saturday.

The victory marked the first win of Cirstea’s career over a reigning world No. 1 and extended a remarkable late-career run for the Romanian veteran, who had announced earlier this year that the 2026 season would be the final campaign of her two-decade professional career.