World number one Aryna Sabalenka’s preparations for the French Open have been dealt a significant blow after she crashed out of the Italian Open at the third round stage on Thursday. The Belarusian suffered a 2-6 6-3 7-5 loss against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in Rome, representing her second loss in just 11 days and her earliest departure since February 2025. The loss is particularly concerning for Sabalenka, who will defend her world ranking at Roland Garros later this month, having already squandered six set points in a quarter-final loss to Hailey Baptiste at the Madrid Open earlier this month. With just four wins and two losses on clay ahead of the French Open, Sabalenka is under increasing pressure to rediscover her best form on the surface where she endured a disappointing final defeat last year.
A Troubling Streak Ended in Rome
Sabalenka’s loss to Cirstea signifies a dramatic collapse in form that will concern the world number one as she heads towards the clay-court season’s most significant event. The 28-year-old had maintained an remarkable streak of reaching at least the last eight in her previous 17 consecutive tournaments, a run that highlights just how commanding she has proven in recent months. However, the Rome proved to be the venue where that impressive record came crashing down, concluding what had been a notable stretch of consistent performance on the professional tour.
The character of the loss amplifies Sabalenka’s worries approaching Paris. She squandered multiple opportunities during the match, including when she won Cirstea’s serve at 5-4 in the deciding set whilst the Romanian was serving for victory. Yet she immediately surrendered that lead, a cycle of self-defeat that defined her afternoon in Rome. Combined with her back problems requiring medical attention late in the third set, Sabalenka’s display indicated a player battling on both physical and mental fronts on clay.
- Sabalenka’s serve broken six times in the contest against Cirstea
- Won only 56% of points on her first serve in Rome
- First round exit since Dubai event in February 2025
- Ended 17-event run of quarter-final appearances or better
Bodily Difficulties and Service Problems
Old Issues Surface Anew
Sabalenka’s fitness level emerged as a significant concern during her third-round encounter with Cirstea in Rome. The world number one required a medical time-out late in the third set to address issues affecting her lower back, a concerning turn of events given the physical demands of clay-court tennis. The Belarusian’s choice to summon the trainer at 4-3 down suggested her discomfort was impacting her capacity to perform at full intensity, particularly in crucial moments when she had to sustain her aggressive baseline game.
Speaking frankly after the match, Sabalenka acknowledged that her body had compromised her play throughout the contest. “I felt like my body was holding me back from performing on the top level,” she stated, a concerning admission with the French Open just weeks away. The back issue prompts concerns about her fitness heading into Roland Garros, where the gruelling nature of best-of-three-set matches on clay demands complete physical commitment and freedom from injury concerns.
Service Analysis
Perhaps most concerning was the breakdown of Sabalenka’s serve performance, the very strength that has characterised her climb to world number one. Her serve was broken a remarkable six times throughout the match, an notably high figure for a player of her level. Whilst she made 72 per cent of her first serves, she won just 56 per cent of points on those serves—a considerable fall from her usual standards. Her second serve proved particularly problematic, with Sabalenka winning only 11 of 26 points, leaving her vulnerable to Cirstea’s aggressive returns and highlighting the frailty that had plagued her form from opening to closing.
| Statistic | Performance |
|---|---|
| First serve percentage | 72% |
| Points won behind first serve | 56% |
| Points won behind second serve | 42% (11 of 26) |
| Service breaks conceded | 6 |
Lost Moments Facing Cirstea
Sabalenka’s capitulation against the departing Romanian was all the more frustrating given the numerous opportunities she missed throughout the contest. The top-ranked player was twice a set and a break ahead, positions from which she should have comfortably defeated the 36-year-old Cirstea. Particularly, at 5-4 in the third set, Sabalenka broke her opponent’s serve when the Romanian was serving for the match—a critical juncture that would have provided her the platform to secure victory. However, she immediately handed the advantage back in the very next game, a costly lapse in concentration that proved decisive.
The momentum quickly shifted in Cirstea’s favour following this crucial mistake. Sabalenka then lost five games in succession, a downturn that saw her visibly frustrated, slapping at a ball in irritation as her composure evaporated. Despite showing signs of a possible recovery when she broke Cirstea again whilst the Romanian served for the match at 5-4, Sabalenka could not sustain the momentum. Cirstea’s excellent return game restored her lead, and she converted her opening match point when Sabalenka’s return sailed long, ending the Belarusian’s hopes of salvaging the contest.
- Twice led by a set and break but failed to convert either advantage into victory
- Dropped five consecutive games whilst attempting to hold in the second set
- Broke Cirstea at 5-4 in the third but promptly surrendered her own serve thereafter
French Open Planning in Doubt
Sabalenka’s loss to Cirstea constitutes a notable blow in her build-up to the French Open, which occurs later this month. The loss marks her quickest departure from a tournament since the Dubai Championships in February 2025, ending an impressive streak of making the quarter-finals in 17 straight events. With only a fortnight left before Roland Garros, the world number one will arrive in Paris with a concerning clay-court record of four wins and two losses—hardly the form one would anticipate from a player of her calibre approaching one of the sport’s greatest tournaments.
The physical strain of the match has also prompted concerns about Sabalenka’s readiness for the demanding demands of a major championship. She needed a medical time-out towards the end of the third set to address back problems, a concerning indicator given the length and intensity of matches commonly seen at Roland Garros. Combined with her second loss in just three matches, having lost to Hailey Baptiste at Madrid on 28 April after squandering six match points, Sabalenka confronts increasing pressure to reclaim her best form promptly if she is to contend for the title this month.
Last Year’s Disappointment
Sabalenka will be eager to atone for her showing in last year’s French Open final, where she endured a heavy defeat to Coco Gauff. In that contest, she produced a staggering 70 unforced errors in what she herself called “the worst final I ever played.” That defeat still evidently weighs on her mind, and another first-round exit from Roland Garros would add to her disappointment and raise serious questions about her capability to translate her top-ranked ranking into Grand Slam success on clay.