Aryna Sabalenka issues immediate response to shock – Sports News
Aryna Sabalenka’s clay-court season took one other sudden activate Saturday when the world No. 1 was overwhelmed 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 by Sorana Cirstea within the third spherical of the Italian Open, her second successive shock defeat and her earliest exit from any event since February 2025.
Sabalenka had seemed totally in control early, cruising by way of the primary set and shifting to 2-0 within the second earlier than the 36-year-old Romanian turned the tennis match round dramatically.
The world No. 1 additionally referred to as for a medical timeout whereas trailing 4-3 within the remaining set, receiving therapy on her decrease back, however was unable to recuperate totally, and Cirstea closed out the win to file the primary victory of her profession over a world No. 1, having beforehand misplaced all 12 units in prior conferences with the game’s top-ranked participant.
“I feel like I didn’t play well from the beginning till the end,” she stated, after the match. “I started really well, but then I kind of dropped the level. Felt like my body was limiting me from performing on the highest level. She stepped in and played incredible tennis. Didn’t really give me many opportunities. But I guess we never lose, we only learn, so it’s OK.”
She additionally addressed the harm concern heading into the French Open. “Probably it’s my lower back, connected to the hip, which was kind of limiting me from full rotation,” she stated. “I guess we are just going to have some days off. We’re going to spend it on recovery. That’s the plan I believe for now.”
On social media, Sabalenka maintained the identical upbeat disposition, posting photos from Rome with a message that framed the defeat as a studying expertise.
“Not every story ends the way you want, but every chapter teaches you something,” she wrote on Instagram. “Rome, thank you for the love. Ciao bella, see you soon.”
The loss was her third of the season, taking her file for 2026 to 27-3. She began the 12 months in extraordinary kind, profitable in Brisbane after which accumulating back-to-back WTA 1000 titles at Indian Wells and Miami.
She gained 26 of her first 27 matches earlier than shedding to Hailey Baptiste in Madrid final week in a match the place Baptiste saved six match factors.
Two consecutive early exits on clay raise questions on her preparation for Roland Garros, the place she reached the ultimate final 12 months earlier than shedding to Coco Gauff.
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