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Cirstea Becomes Oldest First-Time WTA Top-20 Player at No. 18

The late-career rise resets expectations for her French Open campaign.

Overview

  • The latest WTA update lists the 36-year-old at No. 18, her first Top 20 spot and the oldest debut on record, passing Mirjana Lucic-Baroni’s mark at 35 in 2017.
  • She earned the jump with an Italian Open surge that featured a three-set win over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Round of 32.
  • The Rome run ended in the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-3 loss to Coco Gauff after wins over Linda Noskova and Jelena Ostapenko.
  • Playing a planned farewell season, she owns a 27-8 record in 2026 with one title at the Winners Open in Romania.
  • Her next singles victory would be the 600th of a career that began in 2008, with focus now turning to Roland Garros.