Aryna Sabalenka conceded that she was physically hampered in her surprise defeat to Sorana Cirstea in the third round of the Italian Open. 

Sabalenka, who was a beaten finalist in 2024, required a medical timeout late in the third set as she slipped to a surprise 6-2 3-6 7-5 defeat to her Romanian opponent. 

The Belarusian has now suffered two defeats in her last three matches ahead of the French Open, having been dumped out of the Madrid Open by Hailey Baptiste. 

Cirstea's victory saw her become the fifth-oldest player to defeat the world number one since the WTA rankings were published in 1975, after Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King.

Sabalenka was quick to praise Cirstea for her triumph, but revealed that she was well below full fitness after taking the opening set in just 34 minutes on Saturday. 

"Yeah, I feel like I didn't play well from the beginning till the end. I started really well, but then I kind of dropped the level," Sabalenka said. 

"It felt like my body was limiting me from performing on the highest level.

"I'd say that it's probably like my lower back, connected to the hip, which is kind of like limiting me from the full rotation.

"She [Cirstea] stepped in and played incredible tennis. [She] didn't really give me much opportunities. But I guess we never lose; we only learn, so it's okay.”

SORANA L’ITALIANA @sorana_cirstea with a career-defining win in Rome! #IBI26 | @WTA pic.twitter.com/yKEa1cZv9L

— Internazionali BNL d'Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 9, 2026

At 36 years and 28 days old, Cirstea also became the oldest player to defeat the world number one on clay, claim a comeback win against the top ranked player in the WTA rankings and claim a maiden triumph against the world number one. 

Sabalenka's defeat was just her third of 2026, having completed the Sunshine Double following victories at Indian Wells and the Miami Open in March. 

She also won the Brisbane International in January and lost the Australian Open final to Elena Rybakina, though her attention has now turned to Roland-Garros. 

Sabalenka enjoyed her best-ever run in Paris last year, but she came up short in the showpiece match as Coco Gauff clinched just her second major title. 

"I guess we're just going to have some days off," Sabalenka said when asked about her fitness ahead of the second grand slam of the season. 

"We're going to spend it on recovery. That's the plan I believe for now."