After a fantastic tournament in Italy's capital, Romanian tennis star Sorana Cîrstea has made history. She had previously been a contender for a top 20 ranking, having reached 21st place on the WTA list during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Now, at the age of 36, she has finally cemented her place in the elite, ranking 18th globally for the first time in her career.

In the past ten months, Cîrstea has experienced a remarkable resurgence. In August of last year, she was outside the top 100, but by the end of 2025, she had climbed to 44th place. This season, she has continued to play in excellent form. Her biggest achievements this year include her fourth WTA title, which was the first won on home soil in Cluj in February, and reaching the semifinals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome last week. She notably shocked Aryna Sabalenka in the third round.

As she did not participate in Roland Garros last year due to a foot injury, she has no points to defend at this year's grand slam in Paris, which opens up a significant opportunity for her to continue climbing the WTA rankings.

Cîrstea is often referred to as a true beauty, and in some sense, a Balkan one, as part of her country borders the Balkan region. At 36, she frequently draws attention not just for her on-court achievements but also for her attractive appearance.