Aryna Sabalenkova has revealed she struggled with a lower back problem during her Italian Open clash against Sorana Cirstea. On Saturday, the world number one suffered a shocking third-round defeat by the Romanian, in Rome we lose 2-6, 6-3, 7-5. The loss also marked Sabalenka’s second straight upset after her earlier loss to American Hailey Baptiste at the Madrid Open.
During the deciding set, Sabalenka took a medical break after appearing to have problems with her left hip. The Belarusian later explained that the discomfort stemmed from her lower back and hip area, limiting her movement and full rotation on shots. She added that she will now take a few days off to focus on her recovery ahead of the French Open later this month.
“I’d say it’s probably my lower back connected to my hip that’s limiting my full rotation. We’ll probably take a few days off and focus on recovery. That’s the plan for now,” Sabalenka said at the post-match press conference.
‘MY BODY LIMITS ME’
Sabalenka admitted that her level dropped after a strong start and she said physical discomfort prevented her from performing at her best. She also praised Cirstea’s aggressive display, calling it a tough but valuable learning experience.
“Yes, I felt like I didn’t play well from start to finish. I started really well, but then my level dropped. I felt like my body was limiting me from performing at the highest level. She came on and played incredible tennis and didn’t really give me many opportunities. It was difficult, but I think we never lose, we just learn, so it’s okay,” Sabalenka added.
HOW SABALENKA CRASHED AGAINST CIRSTEI
Against Sorana Cirsteaová, Sabalenka looked firmly in command early on, cruising through the first set and leading 2-0 in the second. But her rhythm gradually faded as unforced errors began to pile up, allowing Cirstea to gain momentum and confidence.
Sabalenka’s frustration was evident during the competition. Although she managed to stage a brief comeback from 4-5 down in the deciding set, Cirstea stayed poised in the crucial moments to pull off a stunning upset.
Sabalenka heads into the French Open under increasing pressure after shock defeats in Madrid and Rome. After squandering six match points against Hailey Baptiste in Madrid, the world number one again struggled with errors on the clay, raising concerns about her consistency and preparation ahead of Roland Garros, where she is still seeking her first title.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
10 May 2026 01:01 IST
