Sorana Cîrstea defeated Xiyu Wang 6-3, 7-6 (4) on Sunday to advance to the Roland Garros quarterfinals, equaling her best performance at the tournament from 17 years earlier. The 36-year-old Romanian, ranked 18th in the WTA, closed out the match against the 25-year-old Wang, ranked 148th, in straight sets. Cîrstea will face the winner of the match between eighth-ranked Mirra Andreeva and 170th-ranked Jil Teichmann in the next round.

The result matches Cîrstea's quarterfinal run at Roland Garros in 2009, her previous best showing at the French Open. Romania's number one player has now reached the quarterfinals or better at three different Grand Slams, including the US Open in 2023 and the Round of 16 at the Australian Open in 2017 and 2022, as well as at Roland Garros in 2021. Speaking in French on Eurosport 2 after the match, Cîrstea said, "It was a good match, I played well.

At this level, if you lose 1% intensity, you pay. I didn't make too many mistakes, she played incredibly. I'm happy I closed the match in two sets, because otherwise it would have become even harder."

Cîrstea acknowledged the crowd at Roland Garros. "Thank you all, it was an incredible atmosphere. It was a pleasure to play in front of you," she said.

The Romanian reflected on her continued presence in professional tennis at 36. "I had ambition, passion, I still love this sport. I'm glad to have my family with me, friends are close.

I feel that society labels us, but in life I think you have the right to do what you want. Here I am, at 36 years old," she said. Cîrstea has earned over one million euros in prize money in 2026.

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Her performance this year demonstrates her sustained competitiveness on the WTA tour despite being more than a decade older than many of her opponents. The match against Wang tested Cîrstea's ability to maintain focus through two sets. She managed the second-set tiebreak without allowing the match to extend to a third set, where the physical demands might have favored her younger opponent.

Cîrstea's next opponent will be determined by the outcome of the Andreeva-Teichmann match. Andreeva, at eighth in the rankings, would present a significant challenge as one of the tour's higher-ranked players. Teichmann, ranked 170th, would offer a different test.

The Romanian's run at Roland Garros adds to a career that has spanned nearly two decades at the highest level of women's tennis. Her ability to compete for quarterfinal spots at Grand Slam tournaments in 2026 reflects both her physical conditioning and tactical acumen. Cîrstea emphasized the importance of closing the match in two sets.

"If I hadn't closed the match in two sets, it would have become even harder," she said, acknowledging the physical toll of extended matches at this stage of a Grand Slam tournament. The victory moves Cîrstea within two wins of a Grand Slam final, a milestone she has not yet achieved in her career. Her best results remain quarterfinal appearances at Roland Garros and the US Open.

Cîrstea's performance continues a season in which she has maintained her position among the top 20 players in the world. The prize money she has accumulated in 2026 reflects deep runs in multiple tournaments throughout the year. The quarterfinal match will take place in the coming days, with the winner advancing to the semifinals.

Cîrstea's preparation will focus on maintaining the intensity she identified as critical to success at this level of competition.