World number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered a surprise third-round exit at the Italian Open on Saturday after losing to Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in a dramatic three-set battle.
Sabalenka, who entered the tournament as the top seed and one of the favorites for the title, was beaten 2 to 6, 6 to 3, 7 to 5 on center court in Rome.
The defeat makes her one of the biggest names to exit the tournament early, following Novak Djokovic’s earlier elimination.
Sabalenka appeared in control early in the match after racing through the opening set, looking set for a straightforward victory.
However, the Belarusian star gradually lost rhythm as unforced errors and visible frustration crept into her game.
During parts of the match, she was seen talking to herself, slumped-shouldered, in what many observers described as an unusually sloppy performance from the world number one.
The result marks Sabalenka’s earliest tournament exit in over a year.
Before Saturday’s loss, she had not been eliminated at the round of 32 stage since the Qatar Open in February 2025.
For Cirstea, the victory represents one of the biggest wins of her career.
It is the first time the Romanian has defeated a reigning world number one player.
She will now face Linda Noskova in the next round as she continues her impressive run in Rome.
There were also concerns over Sabalenka’s physical condition during the match after she took a medical timeout for what appeared to be an issue with her left hip.
The injury scare now raises questions about her fitness ahead of the French Open at Roland Garros later this month.
Meanwhile, attention in Rome now turns to Jannik Sinner, who continues his pursuit of another Masters 1000 title and an extension of his impressive winning streak.
Sabalenka’s unexpected exit further opens up the women’s draw in Rome, with several contenders now sensing an opportunity to challenge for the title in the Italian capital.
