“It would be a shame just now!”

CTP publicly asks the Romanian not to retire at the end of 2026. Even the tennis player hinted after the match that she will think even better, taking into account the dream shape she shows.

Journalist Cristian Tudor Popescu, immediately after Sorana Cîrstea's victory: “He proved to me that it is possible”

For Cristian Tudor PopescuSorana's great victory is one against her own demons.

The journalist pointed out that Sorana's huge talent was, over the years, sabotaged by nervous outbursts and mental fragility, aspects that seem to have completely disappeared this year.

“Zen Sorana! After a lifetime in tennis where her huge talent was eaten away by mental instability, wild outbursts to the point of absurdity, here's Sorana, game-smart and serene as a Zen Buddhist, defeating World No. 1, the great girl-beater Sabalenka!

I hardly believe that people can change; Sorana Cîrstea showed me that it is possible. It would be a shame if right now, when she is at her best as a player, it would be her last year in tennis!”, wrote Cristian Tudor Popescu on social networks.

For Sorana, the victory against Aryna Sabalenka is the first that she gets against a player who at the time of the match is ranked first in the world ranking.

Also, Sorana's success is the first of a player from Romania against a world leader for the first time after almost 12 years.

It is very difficult to say whether this is the biggest victory of my career, because I have had wonderful triumphs. I was always a player who, on a good day, could beat anyone.

What makes me happy the most is not so much the victory itself, but the way we played. I think in the second and third sets we showed a very high level. I followed the game plan perfectly and won on my terms. That makes me the happiest.

– Sorana Cîrsteaat the press conference

VIDEO with the magnificent match that Sorana Cîrstea played in Rome, with Sabalenka