Sabalenka Exits Italian Open Early, Sinner Eyes Victory

May 9, 2026

54 min

May 9, 2026 19:30

Sabalenka suffers early Italian Open exit ahead of Sinner bow

## Sabalenka's Unexpected Exit

Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, faced a surprising defeat in the Italian Open's third round. She lost to Sorana Cirstea with scores of 2-6, 6-3, 7-5. This marks Sabalenka's first early exit since February 2025, raising concerns about her form ahead of the upcoming Roland Garros.

## Injury Concerns

During the match, Sabalenka appeared to struggle with a left hip issue, which may affect her performance in future tournaments. Despite a strong start, her performance declined, leading to her unexpected loss.

## Other Tournament Highlights

Coco Gauff advanced after a challenging match against Solana Sierra, winning 5-7, 6-0, 6-4. Meanwhile, defending champion Jasmine Paolini was eliminated by Elise Mertens, losing 4-6, 7-6, 6-3. Paolini's defeat means she will drop out of the top 10 rankings.

## Sinner's Anticipated Performance

Jannik Sinner is set to play against Sebastian Ofner, aiming to extend his impressive Masters 1000 winning streak. With no Italian man winning at Foro Italico in 50 years, Sinner is a favorite to break this streak, especially with Carlos Alcaraz absent from the competition.

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