Now, concerns are mounting ahead of Roland Garros, where Sabalenka reached the final in 2025. During the deciding set against Cirstea, she took a medical timeout for pain in her lower back and hip. After the match, she said the issue had been “limiting me from full rotation” and affecting her performance.
“I feel like I didn’t play well from the beginning till the end,” Sabalenka said in a statement provided to the WTA. “I started really well, but then I kind of dropped the level. Felt like my body was limiting me from performing on the highest level. She stepped in and played incredible tennis. Didn’t really give me much opportunities.
“Yeah, that was a tough one. But I guess we never lose; we only learn, so it’s okay.”
Cirstea advances to the round of 16, where she will face No. 13 seed Linda Noskova. Earlier Saturday, the 21-year-old Czech defeated Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-1, 6-3.
