Costea officially announces retirement next year!

“I love tennis because I cherish the discipline, routine, and hard work it demands; the competition and the adrenaline rush always excite me deeply. However, like all things in life, it must eventually conclude.”

“Next year will mark my 20th year competing on the professional tennis tour. I never imagined I would play tennis for so long. The past few years have been the happiest moments on the court for me, and those days have continuously motivated me to keep going.”

“Even so, I have decided that 2026 will be my final year as a professional athlete.”

This is what Costea recently shared on social media. The Romanian veteran, born in 1990, will officially say goodbye to professional tennis at the age of 36 and start a new chapter in life.

Back in 2008, Costea won her first WTA Tour singles title at the Tashkent Open. Later, in the 2013 season, she defeated several top players at the Rogers Cup, reaching the semifinals of a Premier 5 event in singles for the first time in her career.

Even after entering her 30s, Costea continued to achieve breakthroughs. In the 2021 WTA250 Istanbul Open, she claimed the singles title without dropping a set, marking her second career WTA Tour-level championship. That same season, she also reached the round of 16 at the French Open.

At the 2023 US Open, already 33 years old, Costea defeated several strong opponents including Belinda Bencic, reaching the Grand Slam singles quarterfinals for the second time in her career.

This season, Costea’s performance remained impressive. In May, she partnered with Kalinskaya to win her first WTA1000 doubles title in Madrid, and in August, she defeated Ann Li to claim the singles title at the WTA250 Cleveland event.

Undoubtedly, over the past few seasons, Costea has consistently delivered standout performances at several tournaments, including reaching the singles semifinals in Dubai during the 2024 season.

This month, her world ranking is the highest among players over 35 within the top 100.At 36 years old, maintaining a spot in the top 40 is truly impressive. Following her in the top 100 are Maria, Siegemund, and Zhang Shuai.

Although her highest singles ranking was only No. 21, and she never won a high-level singles title, her nearly 20-year-long career and consistent performance prove she is an outstanding player.

Before Li Na retired, many fans often heard Costea’s name. So, what is your most memorable impression of her?(Source: Tennis Home Author: Barbie)