Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Saturday, 09 May 2026, 20:26 / Updated Saturday, 09 May 2026 20:34
Sorana Cîrstea (36 years old, 27 WTA) shone on Saturday evening at the 1000-point tournament in the Italian capital, achieving a colossal victory, the first against a world leaderin the very last year of his career. The Romanian prevailed in the decider, score 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in front of Aryna Sabalenka (27 years old, 1 WTA). On Monday at noon, he will return to the field for the round of 16 of the competition in Rome.
Sorana Cîrstea was unlucky in the draw, and in the second match her opponent was the main favorite of the tournament. But at Foro Italico, our player produced the surprise, overcoming Sabalenka in the third round.
Now, for the Romanian, the match in which she will fight for qualification in the quarter-finals follows. Optimea against the Czech Linda Noskova (21 years old, 13 WTA) is scheduled for Monday, May 11, most likely starting at 12:00, Romanian time.
The exact schedule for Monday in Rome will be announced later. The match can be watched in liveTEXT format on GSP.ro and on TV on Digi Sport.
Sorana Cîrstea – Linda Noskova, for a place in the quarter-finals in Rome
Linda Noskova, Sorana's future opponent, got past Oleksandra Oliynykova (25 years old, 68 WTA) 6-1, 6-3 in the second round in Rome.
So far, the two players have met four times in the circuit, and the victories were shared: two for Sorana, two for the Czech.
Three of the four matches were this year, the last in Miami, in March, when Sorana prevailed 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in the second round.
Fast forward, Noskova won in the third round at Indian Wells, also in a decider, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4.
The first meeting between the two, since 2026, dates back to the second round in Dubai, where Sorana went in a minimum of sets against her 15 years younger opponent, winning 6-1, 6-4.
The first direct meeting between Cîrstea and Noskova took place in Brisbane, in 2024, when the Czech won in three sets, score 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Now, in the quarterfinals in Madrid, the winner of Sorana Cîrstea and Linda Noskova will be the winner of the eighth Jelena Ostapenko – Belinda Bencic / Anna Kalinskaya.
I'm very, very happy, Aryna is an incredible player, she needs no introduction, she's world number 1. I am very pleased with this victory. I think I played very well today. I work hard and it's nice to get a result like this. I am not surprised by such a performance.
Maybe if I win this tournament, I'll reconsider not retiring. I want to thank everyone in the stands, they are wonderful spectators, what I feel here in Rome is unique. I love the people, I love this tournament and the passion of the people here for this sport
– Sorana Cîrstea, immediately after the success with Sabalenka
VIDEO summary of the match that Sorana Cîrstea won with Aryna Sabalenka
