Sabalenka Cirstea – Aryna Sabalenka, top seed, led by a set and 2-0 before falling to Sorana Cirstea in the Italian Open third round.
Aryna Sabalenka’s Italian Open run was derailed in dramatic fashion as the world No. 1 suffered a surprise third-round defeat to Sorana Cirstea in Rome.
Sabalenka looked firmly in control after taking the match into a commanding position, going a set up and racing to a 2-0 lead. However, Cirstea, ranked 26th, refused to fold and turned the contest on its head, ultimately winning 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.
The result marked a landmark moment for Cirstea, who delivered her first win over a world No.. 1 during what she described as her final pro season.. With the momentum swinging to her side. the Romanian spoke of being “very. very happy” and praised Sabalenka’s quality. insisting she believed her own game was there on the day.
While Cirstea’s comeback storyline took center stage, Sabalenka’s physical state also became a key talking point. The Belarusian appeared visibly bothered by lower back pain and requested a medical timeout for treatment while trailing 4-3 in the deciding set.
It was another unexpected early exit for Sabalenka after a similar twist the week before. She had also been knocked out in the Madrid Open quarterfinals, losing to American Hailey Baptiste, and the Italian Open loss made it consecutive surprises in a short span.
Cirstea’s victory sends her into the round of 16, where she will face Linda Noskova. The upset also reshaped the third-round landscape, with other high-profile names failing to progress.
Defending champion Jasmine Paolini was eliminated as well, suffering a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 third-round defeat after wasting three match points in the match against Elise Mertens.
For Sabalenka and the rest of the field. the shock results underline how quickly the Italian Open can swing when a match momentum changes.. Cirstea’s resilience. combined with Sabalenka’s unplanned medical interruption. turned what looked routine into one of the tournament’s defining third-round outcomes.
As the draw moves into the round of 16. Cirstea will carry the confidence of her biggest win over a world No.. 1, while Sabalenka’s back issue will linger as the main unanswered question behind her sudden departure.. Misryoum reported the outcome as a major upset. but the broader message is already clear: in Rome. the margin between control and chaos can be a single game.
Italian Open Sabalenka Cirstea Aryna Sabalenka Sorana Cirstea Paolini Mertens tennis results