Aryna Sabalenka reveals concerning reason for her exit in Rome.

Aryna Sabalenka, one of the biggest stars in world tennis, experienced a nightmare at the Italian Open that could seriously jeopardize her aspirations for the clay season. After squandering six match points at the Madrid Open against Hailey Baptiste, the Belarusian saw her dream crumble even earlier in Rome, suffering an early exit that hadn’t happened in 15 months. The reason? A concerning injury to her back and hip that forced her to retire from the match against Romanian Sorana Cîrstea, in a duel where the four-time Grand Slam champion could not hide her frustration.

In the aftermath of her 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 defeat, Sabalenka did not conceal the physical toll she experienced: “I felt like my body was limiting me from playing at the highest level. I started well, but then my level dropped. She got into the game and played incredible tennis, she didn’t give me many opportunities. It was tough, but I think we never lose, we only learn, so it’s all good.” The player, currently ranked number 1 in the world, pointed directly to her physical condition: “It’s probably the lower back, related to the hip, that limited my full rotation. Now we will rest for a few days and focus on recovery.”

This setback comes at a time when Sabalenka was enjoying an excellent season on hard courts, with titles in Brisbane, Indian Wells, and Miami, in addition to reaching the final of the Australian Open. However, her campaign on clay has been marked by doubts and difficulties, culminating in an early exit from the Italian tournament that has raised alarms among fans and experts, especially with Roland Garros approaching on the calendar.

The injury became evident in the third set of the match, forcing her to call for a medical timeout to treat her back and hip, a situation that left her visibly frustrated and out of control, reflected in murmurs during the match. Sorana Cîrstea, currently ranked 27th and set to retire at the end of the season, seized the opportunity and highlighted her performance: “She doesn’t need any introductions. I’m very happy with the win and I think I played very well today. I work very hard and this result is a reward.”

Sabalenka joins a growing list of stars facing physical issues ahead of the year’s second Grand Slam. In the same tournament, Novak Djokovic, returning after a shoulder injury, suffered an unexpected defeat against young Croatian Dino Prižmić, a result that raises questions about the Serbian’s physical condition as he approaches 39 years old. “It’s not the ideal preparation, to be honest,” admitted Djokovic, who has not won a major since the US Open 2023.

Another notable name that has confirmed their absence at Roland Garros is Carlos Alcaraz, the world number 2, who is dealing with a wrist injury and plans to return for the grass season.

With Sabalenka and Djokovic facing significant physical limitations, the outlook for the French Open becomes uncertain and filled with questions about who will be fit to compete for the title in Paris. What is clear is that the battle for glory on clay goes beyond talent – it now hinges on the physical endurance and recovery capacity of these stars of world tennis at a decisive moment in the season.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.