We have been saying all year, 2026 has been the best season of Sorana’s life. Top 20 for the first time in her career, beating a World Number One for the first time and from a set and a break down, a third Grand Slam quarter final in Paris, and a title at home in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, the Transylvania Open I was there she won the final on my birthday too, she had never won a match at that tournament in previous visits.

The consistency and the level has been phenomenal. There have been chinks in the armour, injuries forcing her to withdraw from a semi final and heartbreakingly from Iasi in July.
Yesterday we saw a bit everything, the magic and the pain. Her victory against Austria’s Julia Grabher was emphatic enough, on paper our Champ crushed her 6-3 6-0 but there were complications, an apparent leg injury which she had a couple of treatments for and taping and the low first serve percentage suggesting it was impeding her movement and kicking off with the serves. Her return games were absolutely on the money as she sent thunderbolts back at the Austrian, it never really looked in doubt on the strength of how well she was attacking Grabher’s service games but there were signs of worry here and there and we hope she is fit for the next one in two days

Sorana has been spellbinding all year, a few hopeful fans and most of the media spin a narrative about her changing her mind about retirement, I know she will not and it’s the little injuries here and there that remind you of that. What Sorana has done this year has been sensational, if she continued into 2027 the chances of her replicating this level are low and she knows that more than anyone. Also she’s at peace with her decision and I respect that.

All year I have been distracted by her magnificence but now we have reached her final major, the pending retirement is hitting home, I have supported Sorana for nearly all her 20 year career and will always do but for the first time this year I am now starting to feel quite emotional when she plays because I’m not ready to say goodbye yet 🥺

Congratulations on your win Champ, good luck for the next one, hopefully the next six 🥹

Never Surrender 💪🔥❤️

There she is!!! Sori in the third round of a major yet again, and she’s there without dropping a set, it is a super 6-2 7-5 victory over France’s Diane Parry, the single handed Backhand player came in hot after winning a WTA 500 in Mexico but Sorana brushed her aside with ease. 💪🔥

No nodding off in the city that never sleeps.

Italian Jasmine Paolini is next for our Champ who struggled in the first half of this season before springing to life at Wimbledon and has not looked back, she’s dangerous. She also holds a 3-0 head to head against our Champ but there’s hope for the Cirstea Crew, all of the matches were over two years ago and one of them at the 2023 French Open, I was there and I can tell you Sorana was sick that day and still pushed it to three sets.

Sorana definitely has a chance tomorrow, it could well be her first three setter of the week, I said that last time and was wrong so hopefully I am again and she wins in two 😊

Its 4pm in the UK when I am travelling to work, I am able to enjoy first set however and after falling to a 0-2 deficit, Sorana kicked into gear and won the next 5 games in a row. It is an emphatic 6-3 6-3 victory, Sorana serving so well despite the earlier fears. She smashed 7 Aces too. She moves into round of 16 and is looking so incredibly strong, a familiar foe waits for her in the fourth round, the American Number One, Jessica Pegula.

‘No matter what happens next year, I know 2026 will be my last’

Sorana tells us before the start of this remarkable year. There is always the tiniest chance of a U Turn but we feel, despite everything that has happened on this sensational season she is settled in her mind and will be true to her word.

A warm embrace from Jessica Pegula at the net and she tells Sorana she has so much respect for her as we all do

The match had moments of brilliance but neither player performed at the very best consistently, Sorana lost the first 13 points in a row and that was always too big a mountain against the American Number One despite some excellent return games.

Our Champ never looked completely settled tonight, continually distracted by the crowd, and who can blame her? So many ignorant people at this tournament and whoever allowed crowd movement after 1 game is a monkey and should be shot, what possible world do they live in where that is a good idea?? Is it so much to ask for people to stay in their seats until a change of ends?

But today was about none of that, today was about Sorana and her final Grand Slam match.

You have been magnificent Sori and we love you!!

There’s still a couple of months left of your wonderful final year and we cannot wait to watch you play again

Never Surrender Sorana ❤️