ROME — In a stunning upset, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was knocked out in the third round of the Italian Open by Sorana Cirstea on Saturday.
Despite leading with a set and a break at 2-0, Sabalenka faltered as the 26th-ranked Cirstea surged back, clinching the match with a score of 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.
This victory marked Cirstea’s first win against a world No. 1 at 36 years old, as she embarks on her final professional season.
“I’m overjoyed,” Cirstea exclaimed with a smile. “Aryna is such a formidable opponent. I felt I played exceptionally well today, and all the hard work is paying off.”
However, Sabalenka seemed to struggle with lower back discomfort, taking a medical timeout while trailing 4-3 in the deciding set.
“I felt my body was holding me back from performing at my best,” Sabalenka commented. “Cirstea played brilliantly and didn’t give me many chances. But I believe we never truly lose; we only learn, so I’m okay with this.”
“It could be my lower back, which affects my hip and limits my rotation. We’re taking some time off to focus on recovery—that’s the plan for now.”
This defeat marks the second unexpected exit for Sabalenka, who faced a similar fate against American Hailey Baptiste in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open last week.
Cirstea is set to face Linda Noskova in the round of 16.
In another surprising turn, defending champion Jasmine Paolini was also eliminated, squandering three match points in a closely contested match that ended 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 against Elise Mertens.
