Aryna Sabalenka’s French Open preparations were thrown into fresh turmoil after the world No. 1 suffered a stunning third round collapse against Sorana Cirstea at the Italian Open in Rome, raising serious concerns over both her form and fitness heading into Roland Garros. The Belarusian star appeared in complete control early in the match before fading physically and mentally as Cirstea stormed back for a remarkable 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory that sent shockwaves through the women’s draw.
Sabalenka arrived in Rome hoping to steady her clay court campaign after an increasingly erratic few weeks. Instead, the defeat deepened fears that the dominant hard court force of early 2026 may be unraveling at the worst possible moment. After cruising through the opening set and racing into a 2-0 lead in the second, Sabalenka’s level abruptly dropped as lower back and hip discomfort visibly hampered her movement. She later required treatment during the deciding set and admitted afterward that the pain prevented her from rotating properly on key shots.
For Cirstea, the victory instantly became one of the defining moments of her career. The 36 year old Romanian, who has already confirmed this will be her final season on tour, recorded the first win over a reigning world No. 1 in her career. Even more remarkably, she had never previously taken a set from a top-ranked player before dismantling Sabalenka’s composure in Rome.
The match completely shifted midway through the second set when Cirstea began dictating longer rallies and exposing Sabalenka’s movement limitations. The Belarusian repeatedly grimaced between points while her normally explosive groundstrokes lost both depth and consistency. By the third set, the momentum belonged entirely to the Romanian veteran, whose fearless baseline aggression silenced the Foro Italico crowd.
The defeat continues a surprisingly shaky stretch for Sabalenka after a dominant start to the season. She captured titles in Brisbane, Indian Wells, and Miami while reaching yet another Australian Open final earlier this year, reinforcing her status as the sport’s most intimidating power player.
Her Madrid Open campaign ended in painful fashion after blowing six match points against Hailey Baptiste, and the Rome collapse now means Sabalenka has suffered two damaging defeats in her last three tournaments. The loss also snapped her streak of 17 consecutive WTA quarterfinal appearances, an extraordinary run that had highlighted her consistency over the past year.
The growing injury concerns will now dominate discussion ahead of Roland Garros. Sabalenka reached the French Open final last season but has historically struggled to fully impose her power based game on slower clay surfaces. Any lingering mobility issues could severely damage her hopes of finally capturing the Paris crown.
Elsewhere, Britain’s Cameron Norrie also endured disappointment after a second-round defeat despite arriving in Rome with renewed confidence on clay. Norrie later admitted he struggled to reproduce the intensity he had shown in practice sessions leading into the event.
But the spotlight firmly remained on Sabalenka and Cirstea after one of the biggest shocks of the season. For Cirstea, the emotional victory added another chapter to what has become a remarkable farewell tour. The Romanian has hinted throughout the year that retirement is approaching, yet her performances in Rome suddenly suggest she still has enough quality to disrupt the sport’s biggest names.
Sabalenka now faces an anxious race against time before Roland Garros. Physically compromised, mentally shaken, and suddenly vulnerable on clay, the world No. 1 heads toward Paris carrying more questions than answers.
