Sorana Cîrstea advances to second round at WTA Ningbo

Sorana Cîrstea secured her first victory in 45 days by defeating Han Shi 6-3, 6-2 in the opening round of the WTA 500 tournament in Ningbo, China. The 36-year-old Romanian player, currently ranked 17th in the world, moves into the second round where she will face the winner of the match between Sara Bejlek and Xiyu Wang.

This victory comes during a significant period for Cîrstea, who has announced her intention to retire at the end of the current season. Despite her decision, she is experiencing a highly successful year, having earned over $2.3 million in prize money in 2026 and reaching a career-high ranking. If she continues her strong performance in Ningbo, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, she has the potential to climb to 15th in the WTA rankings.

Her path in Ningbo could lead to a quarterfinal matchup against the second seed, Iga Swiatek, if she advances through the upcoming rounds.