Reuters
Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her loss to Sorana Cirstea
Reuters / Claudia Greco
Aryna Sabalenka’s preparation for Roland Garros has suffered a setback after she was eliminated in the third round of the Italian Open by Sorana Cirstea. The world number one now faces a race against time to recover from an injury before the Grand Slam, which begins this month.
Sabalenka required medical attention late in her match against Cirstea on Saturday before falling 2-6, 6-3, 7-5. It marks her second loss in three matches, following a quarterfinal defeat to Hailey Baptiste at the Madrid Open last month.
“I feel like I haven’t played well from start to finish. I started really well, but then my level dropped,” said the four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka in Rome. “I noticed my body has limited me from performing at my best. She stepped up and played incredible tennis. She practically gave me no chances.”
“It was a tough match. But I guess you never lose—you only learn, so it’s okay.”
Sabalenka’s disappointing clay-court swing comes after a brilliant run on hard courts, where she won the title in Brisbane, reached the Australian Open final, and claimed back-to-back titles in Indian Wells and Miami.
The Belarusian said she now hopes to regain form in time for the French Open, which begins in Paris on May 26, after losing last year’s final to Coco Gauff.
“I’d say it’s probably the lower back, connected to the hip, that has limited my full rotation,” added the 28-year-old. “I guess now we’ll take a few days off. We’ll dedicate them to recovery. That’s the plan for now.”