Aryna Sabalenka left the Italian Open with more than a defeat, as lower back pain turned a third-round loss into a fresh concern just weeks before Roland Garros.
Sorana Cirstea beat the world’s top-ranked women’s player 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in Rome, flipping the match after dropping the opening set. The result alone would have stood out. The physical issue made it far more significant, because it arrived at a point in the calendar when every match doubles as a test run for Paris.
Sabalenka’s defeat in Rome now matters as much for her back as for the scoreline.
Reports indicate Sabalenka struggled with pain in her lower back during the match. That immediately shifts attention from the Italian Open draw to her fitness timeline and how much work she can do before the French Open begins. For a top seed, the question is no longer only about form. It is about whether the body will allow full preparation on clay.
Key Facts
- Sorana Cirstea beat Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the third round.
- Sabalenka is the top-ranked women’s player.
- Reports indicate she experienced lower back pain during the match.
- The injury concern comes shortly before Roland Garros.
The timing sharpens the stakes. Rome often serves as one of the clearest indicators for what could come in Paris, especially on clay. An early exit can sometimes offer rest, but rest only helps if the issue proves minor. If the pain lingers, Sabalenka’s status as a leading contender at Roland Garros could come under immediate scrutiny.
What happens next will matter far beyond one tournament result. Sabalenka’s camp now faces a narrow window to assess the severity of the problem, manage recovery, and protect her chances at the season’s next major. The coming days should reveal whether this was a brief physical setback or the start of a far more disruptive problem heading into Paris.