The red clay of Rome has claimed its biggest victim yet. In a stunning third-round upset at the 2026 Italian Open, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka fell to Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea in a gripping three-set battle: 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.
The defeat sends shockwaves through the WTA tour, leaving the top seed with lingering injury concerns just two weeks before the start of Roland Garros.
From shocking upsets to historic “lucky loser” runs, the 2026 edition at the Caja Mágica was anything but predictable. Here is everything you need to know about the results and the most interesting stories from the tournament.
For the first forty minutes, it looked like business as usual for the Belarusian powerhouse. Sabalenka dominated the opening set 6-2 and quickly raced to a 2-0 lead in the second. However, the momentum shifted violently as Cirstea – currently playing in her final professional season – began to find her rhythm.
Cirstea, 36, showcased the tactical brilliance and grit that have defined her career, winning six of the next seven games to force a decider.
As the third set progressed, Sabalenka’s movement appeared increasingly compromised. Trailing 4-3, she called for a medical timeout to receive treatment on her lower back and hip. While she fought back to level the set at 5-5, Cirstea remained clinical, breaking the World No. 1 in the eleventh game and serving out the match with ice-cold composure.
“I felt like my body was limiting me from performing at the highest level,” Sabalenka admitted in her post-match press conference. “It’s probably my lower back, connected to the hip, which is limiting my full rotation. We are going to focus on recovery now.”
The loss marks Sabalenka’s second consecutive early exit following a quarterfinal loss to Hailey Baptiste in Madrid last week. With no titles on clay this season and a mounting injury concern, the World No. 1 heads to Paris with more questions than answers.
Can Sabalenka recover in time to challenge for the French Open crown, or will this “Sori-story” be the catalyst for a wide-open draw in Paris?
For Sorana Cirstea, this wasn’t just another upset; it was a historic milestone.
- First Career Win: This marks Cirstea’s first-ever victory over a reigning World No. 1.
- Historic Longevity: She becomes the oldest player since 1973 to record her first win over a World No. 1 on clay.
- The Farewell Tour: Having announced her retirement at the end of 2026, Cirstea is proving she is still a force to be reckoned with at the highest level.