Article by Mihai Șovei – Published Saturday, 09 May 2026 21:52 / Updated Saturday, 09 May 2026 22:05
Sorana Cîrstea (36 years old, #27 WTA) won on Saturday a huge successin front of the player Aryna Sabalenka (27 years old, #1 WTA), the main favorite to win the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome, at the end of a match in which she came back spectacularly, score 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.
At the end of the game, the world leader uttered only two words right on the field in the Italian capital, “good job”, which means “congratulations”. The athlete from Belarus continued to talk about her performance in the duel with Sorana, whom she praised for her fighting spirit.
Aryna Sabalenka congratulated Sorana Cîrstea for her success in Rome
Although the duel in Rome started very well, Aryna Sabalenka was not able to keep up until the end.
The player from Belarus lost in 3 sets to Sorana Cîrstea, in a game in which she requested a medical time-out after the 4-3 game in the decisive set.
Even though she was defeated by the player from Romania, Sabalenka sent her congratulations as she approached the net.
After the match, the world leader spoke about not being able to play at his best, but continued to congratulate Sorana.
I feel like I didn't play well from the beginning of the match. Even though I started out winning, I quickly realized that my body wasn't allowing me to compete the way I wanted. I try to tell myself that you never lose, you only learn.
My problem was in my lower back connected to my hip which limits my full range of motion. I guess I'll have to rest for a few days.
Sorana is a fighter. It's kind of sad to see her retire because I feel like she's one of those players who fights no matter what. I felt it could stay longer. It's her choice. We all respect that. I wish him nothing but the best season to end his career.
– said Aryna Sabalenka, accordingly TheTennisLetter
According to the WTA website, in her two decades on the circuit, Cîrstea has 24 wins against top 20 players, an amazing total for a player who has never reached the top 20 in the WTA rankings, but none of them have come against a player ranked No. 1 in the world.
Further, in the round of 16 of the WTA 1000 Rome, Sorana will duel with Linda Noskova (21 years old, 13 WTA), who passed Oleksandra Oliynykova (25 years old, 68 WTA) 6-1, 6-3.
VIDEO summary of the match that Sorana Cîrstea won with Aryna Sabalenka
