Sorana Cirstea continued her outstanding kind in the twilight of her profession as she thrashed Solana Sierra 6-0 6-0 to attain the French Open fourth spherical.
The 36-year-old is the oldest participant in the Open period to claim a ‘double bagel’ victory in a Grand Slam principal draw.
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The win over Argentina’s Sierra sees Cirstea become the oldest participant to attain the last-16 in the ladies’s singles at Roland Garros since Serena Williams in 2021.
Romania’s Cirstea will retire at the finish of 2026 but is having fun with one of the best spells of her 20-year profession.
This is the first time Cirstea has superior beyond the second spherical of a Grand Slam since the 2022 US Open.
Earlier this month she reached the Italian Open semi-finals, beating world quantity one Aryna Sabalenka along the means.
Cirstea was dominant from begin to end, with her 21-year-old opponent not reaching sport level once in the match.
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“I don’t feel I’m doing anything different. I feel I am still working the same – the same discipline and professionalism,” Cirstea said.
“Every time I step on court I feel I have a lot of things to improve. I have goals I want to improve and that keeps me alive.
“I’ve always been there the last couple of years around [world number] 20, but I really feel what’s totally different this season is the consistency.”
Cirstea will face China’s Wang Xiyu next. Should she advance, she will reach the quarter-finals at Roland Garros for the first time in 17 years and equal her best run at a Grand Slam.
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Her previous major quarter-final appearance came at the US Open in 2022.
Earlier, six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek beat Magda Linette 6-4 6-4, while Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova was stunned by Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann.
Nicknamed ‘the Queen of Clay’, Swiatek won four titles at Roland Garros between 2020 and 2024 but has encountered problems on the surface since the 2025 clay court season.
Swiatek showed glimpses of her best during her win over fellow Pole Linette but it was an inconsistent display.
The 24-year-old will face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the fourth round after her 6-4 6-3 win against Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic.
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Muchova, who was beaten by Swiatek in the 2023 final, was beaten 6-1 7-5 by Switzerland’s world number 170 Teichmann.
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