World number one Aryna Sabalenka exits Italian Open citing lower back injury ahead of French Open

World number one Aryna Sabalenka has been eliminated from the Italian Open following a third-round defeat to Sorana Cirstea, a result that has cast immediate doubt over her readiness for the French Open. The match concluded with a score of 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, marking a second consecutive surprise exit from a Masters 1000 event for the Belarusian after a quarterfinal loss to Hailey Baptiste at the Madrid Open.

Sabalenka required treatment late in the contest due to pain in her lower back, which she described as affecting her hip rotation and limiting her full movement. The injury forced a pause in her preparation for the Roland Garros tournament, which is scheduled to begin in less than two weeks. While the specific medical diagnosis remains unconfirmed, the player indicated that the physical limitation hindered her ability to perform at her highest level during the encounter.

The victory for the 36-year-old Romanian, Sorana Cirstea, represents a significant milestone in her final professional season, as it stands as her first win against a world number one. Cirstea expressed satisfaction with the result, noting that she had worked hard to achieve the payoff. The match was characterised by a display from Sabalenka that she later described as uncharacteristically sloppy, with the top player visibly frustrated by her own performance on centre court.

Sabalenka's current form on clay contrasts sharply with her recent success on hardcourts, where she captured the Brisbane title, reached the Australian Open final, and claimed back-to-back trophies in Indian Wells and Miami. Despite this stellar run prior to the clay court swing, the Italian Open has proven difficult, with defending champion Jasmine Paolini also eliminated in the third round after wasting three match points against Elise Mertens.

In other developments at the Foro Italico, world number one Jannik Sinner advanced comfortably to the third round against Sebastian Ofner, continuing his bid to extend a record-breaking run of five straight Masters 1000 victories. The event also saw fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime suffer a shock second-round defeat to Argentina's Mariano Navone, while no Italian man has won the tournament since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago.

Sabalenka stated her intention to spend time off on recovery to regain her fitness in time for the French Open, though the timeline for her return remains uncertain. The tournament continues with Cirstea set to face Linda Noskova in the round of 16, while the broader field adjusts to a series of unexpected results that have reshaped the draw for the remainder of the event.