World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka heads into the French Open with mounting concerns after suffering yet another shock defeat during a turbulent clay-court season. Just days after a stunning loss to American Hailey Baptiste in Madrid, Sabalenka crashed out of the Italian Open following a dramatic three-set defeat to Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in Rome.
Sabalenka’s struggles on clay continued on Saturday when Cirstea produced one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, rallying from a set and a break down to beat the Belarusian 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the third round of the Italian Open.
The Romanian veteran, playing what is expected to be her final season on tour, secured the first win over a World No.1 in her career with the memorable victory in Rome.
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The defeat further exposed Sabalenka’s inconsistent form ahead of Roland Garros. Despite starting the season strongly and maintaining her World No.1 ranking, the Belarusian has struggled to dominate on clay in recent weeks.
SABALENKA THROWS AWAY EARLY ADVANTAGE
Against Cirstea, she appeared in complete control early on, racing through the opening set and building a 2-0 lead in the second. However, unforced errors began to creep into her game as Cirstea steadily grew in confidence.
Sabalenka’s frustrations became increasingly visible as the match wore on. She also required a medical timeout in the deciding set due to discomfort in her leg and back, further disrupting her rhythm. Although she briefly fought back from 4-5 down in the third set, Cirstea held her nerve to complete the upset.
SABALENKA KEEPS STRUGGLING ON CLAY
The latest setback comes on the back of another painful defeat in Madrid, where Sabalenka squandered six match points before losing to Hailey Baptiste in the quarterfinals. Baptiste’s breakthrough win marked one of the biggest results of her career and ended Sabalenka’s hopes of defending her Madrid crown.
Those consecutive defeats have raised questions over Sabalenka’s preparations heading into the French Open, a tournament where she is still searching for her maiden title. While her powerful baseline game remains one of the most dangerous weapons in women’s tennis, recent matches have highlighted her vulnerability on slower clay courts when opponents extend rallies and force her into errors.
With Roland Garros now fast approaching, Sabalenka will hope to quickly rediscover consistency and composure. But after back-to-back shock exits in Madrid and Rome, the World No.1 suddenly heads to Paris under unexpected pressure.
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