Aryna Sabalenka said her defeat to Sorana Cîrstea in Rome felt shaped by both the Romanian’s level and her own physical problems. The world No. 1 fell 6-2, 3-6, 5-7 in the third round after leading early, but Cîrstea finished strongly and claimed one of the biggest wins of her career.
Sabalenka, 28, had already won three titles this season and had lost only three matches before this result. Those defeats came against Elena Rybakina in the US Open final, Hailey Baptiste in the Madrid quarterfinals, and now Cîrstea in Rome.
Sabalenka says Cîrstea took control
The Belarusian described the match as difficult and admitted her level dropped after a strong opening. She said her body started to limit her and prevented her from playing at full strength.
“From the beginning to the end, I played badly,” Sabalenka said, according to sport.kz. She added that Cîrstea “played an incredible match” and, in her words, “did not give me any chance.”
Sabalenka also pointed to discomfort in her lower back, connected to the hip area, which made it hard for her to rotate her upper body properly. During the deciding set, when Cîrstea led 4-3, Sabalenka asked for the physio because of medical issues.
A match that changed late
Sabalenka still stayed in the contest and at times looked capable of turning it around. Cîrstea, however, kept pressing and closed out the win with steady pressure in the final stages.
The result stood out because Sabalenka entered the match with a strong season record and a top ranking, while Cîrstea used her experience to handle the pressure. For Sabalenka, the main takeaway was not only the loss, but the need to recover before her next matches.
She said the plan is to take several days off and focus on recovery for now. That approach matches the physical concerns that appeared during the match and the frustration she expressed afterward.
Respect for Cîrstea’s fight
Sabalenka also spoke positively about the Romanian player, calling her “a real fighter.” She said it was upsetting to see Cîrstea retire from matches in general, because she views her as the kind of player who battles no matter the situation.
The Belarusian added that Cîrstea could have kept playing longer, but she respected the decision and wished her a strong final season. That comment highlighted the respect between the two players even after a tense three-set battle.
Head-to-head now level
The defeat left their head-to-head record tied at 2-2. Cîrstea’s win in Rome balanced out Sabalenka’s victories in Brisbane and Madrid, while Cîrstea had also beaten her in Miami.
Cîrstea will next face Linda Noskova, a player she has already met three times this season. In the women’s draw, the Rome title in 2025 had been won by Jasmine Paolini after a 6-4, 6-2 final against Coco Gauff.
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