The Italian Open witnessed one of its biggest upsets of the season on May 9 as world number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered a shock third round exit at the hands of Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in Rome. In a dramatic contest that lasted over two and a half hours, Cirstea fought back from a set down to register a memorable 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory and secure one of the most significant wins of her career.
The result sent shockwaves through the women’s draw at the Foro Italico, especially with the French Open just weeks away. Sabalenka had entered the tournament as one of the strongest contenders for the title after a dominant start to the 2026 season. However, Cirstea’s resilience and fearless shot making turned the tide in a match that began firmly in the Belarusian’s favour.
Sabalenka looked in complete control during the opening set, overpowering Cirstea with her aggressive baseline game and booming serves. The top seed raced through the first set 6-2 and appeared set for another routine victory in Rome. But momentum shifted dramatically in the second set as unforced errors began creeping into Sabalenka’s game, particularly on serve. Cirstea capitalised brilliantly, breaking Sabalenka three times and dictating longer rallies with confidence to level the match at one set apiece.
The deciding set proved to be a tense battle of nerves. Sabalenka struggled to maintain consistency while Cirstea continued to apply pressure with precise returns and aggressive court coverage. The Romanian broke serve to move 3-2 ahead after Sabalenka saved multiple break points in a lengthy game. Shortly afterwards, the world number one called for a medical timeout due to discomfort in her left hip, raising concerns about her physical condition ahead of Roland Garros.
Although the treatment seemed to help Sabalenka regain composure temporarily and she fought back to level the set at 5-5, Cirstea remained calm under pressure. The Romanian held serve confidently before producing a decisive final game to seal victory on her first match point. The win marked the first time in her career that Cirstea had defeated a reigning world number one.
For Cirstea, the triumph represented a major milestone in a career that has often featured flashes of brilliance against elite opposition. The 35 year old has enjoyed a resurgence in recent seasons and once again demonstrated her ability to compete at the highest level. Following the victory, she admitted that defeating Sabalenka in Rome ranked among the greatest achievements of her professional journey.
Cirstea will now face Czech youngster Linda Noskova in the fourth round. Noskova has emerged as one of the brightest young talents on the WTA Tour and advanced after a series of impressive performances in Rome. Their upcoming clash promises to be one of the most intriguing matches in the second week of the tournament.
Sabalenka’s early exit adds to growing uncertainty among some of tennis’ biggest stars heading into the French Open. Just a day earlier, Novak Djokovic was also eliminated from the Italian Open men’s draw, making it a difficult tournament for top seeds. With Roland Garros approaching, questions will now arise regarding Sabalenka’s fitness and form after her hip issue surfaced during such a physically demanding contest.
Despite the defeat, Sabalenka remains one of the favourites for the clay court Grand Slam in Paris due to her powerful all-court game and recent consistency. She won multiple WTA titles earlier this season and has developed into one of the most dominant players on tour over the past two years. However, her loss in Rome highlighted the increasing depth in women’s tennis, where even the top ranked players are vulnerable against experienced opponents capable of raising their level on big occasions.
The Italian Open has historically served as a crucial indicator ahead of the French Open, with players using the Rome tournament to fine tune their clay court preparation. Sabalenka’s unexpected exit now leaves the women’s draw wide open and gives other contenders a major opportunity to build momentum before Paris.
For Sorana Cirstea, meanwhile, the victory in Rome may become one of the defining moments of her career. Defeating the world number one on one of tennis’ grandest clay court stages not only boosts her confidence but also reaffirms her place among the sport’s most dangerous and experienced competitors.
