Sorana Cîrstea Breaks Into WTA Top 20 at Age 36

Romanian tennis veteran Sorana Cîrstea entered the WTA top‑20 for the first time at 36 after a standout 2026 season. She reached the Australian Open third round, defeated Naomi Osaka in Melbourne, won the Transylvania Open in Cluj‑Napoca, and posted a semifinal at the Miami Open. Cîrstea also upset world No. 1 Arina Sabalenka in Rome and advanced to the fourth round of Roland Garros without dropping a set, before a close loss at Wimbledon to eventual champion Linda Noskova.

Coach Adrian Cruciat credited a conscious shift in Cîrstea’s preparation and mindset, noting that she now trains with greater intensity and focuses on learning new tactics. The changes, begun after a mid‑career partnership with Marius Comănescu, have helped her compete consistently against top players and regain confidence ahead of upcoming events in Cincinnati and New York.