Aryana Sabalenka suffers earliest tournament exit in 15 months with Italian Open loss

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated in the third round of the Italian Open on Saturday, losing to Sorana Cîrstea after leading by a set and 2-0. Sabalenka required a medical timeout for a lower-back and hip problem during the third set, marking her earliest tournament exit since the Qatar Open in February 2025. The injury raises concerns about her readiness for the French Open, which begins on May 24.