Cirstea Edges Stoiana in Hong Kong Round of 16
Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea recovered from a 5-2 deficit to beat world No. 114 Mary Stoiana and reach the Hong Kong quarterfinals.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Tennis
Sorana Cirstea overcame a 5-2 double-break deficit to win the first set and then took the second with three breaks, defeating Mary Stoiana in the Hong Kong round-of-16 match. The win sends Cirstea into the quarterfinals against Alexandra Shubladze.
Why it matters
The result extends Cirstea's run as the tournament's top seed and keeps her in contention for a title at what could be the close of her career. Stoiana, who had earlier beaten Venus Williams, exits after a strong week.
Cirstea won the first set from 5-2 down and then took three breaks in the second, while Stoiana sits at world No. 114 against Shubladze's No. 136. The source does not address the outcome of the quarterfinal.
The players
Sorana Cirstea
Romanian veteran tennis player and the top seed at the Hong Kong tournament, now two wins from a title as she nears the end of her career.
Mary Stoiana
Romanian player ranked world No. 114 who had earlier defeated Venus Williams before losing to Cirstea in the round of 16.
Alexandra Shubladze
Georgian player ranked world No. 136 who came through qualifying and is Cirstea's next opponent in the Hong Kong quarterfinals.
The details
Cirstea, 36, trailed 5-2 in the first set before claiming three straight breaks and five consecutive games to level and then win the set. She then broke three times in the second set to complete a straight-set victory over Stoiana, who had beaten Venus Williams in the first round.
Timeline
Two days before the Stoiana match, Cirstea came back to beat Maria Timofeeva 7-6 (6) 1-6 7-5 in the first round.
Thursday: Cirstea defeated Mary Stoiana in the Hong Kong round-of-16 match.
Season Trajectory
Cirstea's run continues a pattern of experienced players reaching late stages of smaller WTA events in their final seasons. Her progress keeps the Hong Kong draw tied to a veteran narrative as the quarterfinals approach.
Cirstea's quarterfinal against Shubladze is the immediate next step for the top seed, and a win would leave her two matches from a title. Fantasy and bracket followers should note Cirstea's position as the highest-seeded remaining player.
The takeaway
A comeback from 5-2 down shows how quickly momentum can shift in a single set, and Cirstea's late-career run is a reminder that experience can carry a player through tight matches.
What happens next
Cirstea faces Alexandra Shubladze in the Hong Kong quarterfinals, a match the source identifies as her next scheduled contest.
Further reading
For more on the women's game, see our Tennis coverage.
