Sorana Cîrstea may return to tennis sooner than expected

Romanian tennis player Sorana Cîrstea may return to competition sooner than expected following a calf injury sustained after the US Open. Although her coach, Adrian Cruciat, initially indicated she would miss tournaments in Singapore and potentially Beijing, Cîrstea remains on the entry list for the Beijing tournament, suggesting a possible earlier recovery.

The 36-year-old is currently competing in her final professional season, having announced that 2026 would be her last year on the WTA circuit. She has enjoyed a highly successful season, reaching a career-high ranking of world number 15 in September and earning over $2 million in prize money. Her recent achievements include winning the Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca and reaching the quarterfinals at Roland Garros and the round of 16 at the US Open.

Former world number one Ilie Năstase commented on her situation, noting that while he respects her decisions, he would find it difficult to withdraw from competition while ranked 15th in the world. He highlighted that her performance this season has been exceptional, marking her as the highest-ranked Romanian player since Simona Halep.