Tennis star Sorana Cirstea immediately retires from the sport after upset loss at Hong Kong Open

What happened: Sorana Cirstea retired from tennis immediately after losing 6-2, 6-3 to Alexandra Shubladze in the Hong Kong Open quarterfinals. She had said 2026 would be her final year on tour. Key numbers: Cirstea, 36, was the No. 1 seed in Hong Kong and ranked No. 15 in the world, the highest of her career. Why it matters: Cirstea said she was running on empty and needs to step back before a final announcement in a few weeks. She was thriving this season, having beaten then-No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the Italian Open in May.

Sorana Cirstea retired from tennis immediately after losing 6-2, 6-3 to Alexandra Shubladze in the Hong Kong Open quarterfinals. She had said 2026 would be her final year on tour.

Cirstea said she was running on empty and needs to step back before a final announcement in a few weeks. She was thriving this season, having beaten then-No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the Italian Open in May.