Aryna Sabalenka is not yet in top shape on clay two weeks before the start of the French Open.
The tennis world number one lost to the Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6:2, 3:6, 5:7 in the third round of the WTA tournament in Rome and was eliminated early from the preparatory tournament for Paris. Sabalenka had previously also failed prematurely in Madrid and ended in the quarter-finals in the Spanish capital.
In Rome she got off to a good start, but then she made a lot of unusual mistakes – especially on her own serve. Sabalenka received three breaks in the second set and had to give up her serve six times in total.
Pain in the hip area
In the third set, Sabalenka had her left hip treated and took advantage of a time out. But when the score was 5:5 in the decisive round, she gave up her serve again and was no longer able to counter.
““It’s probably my lower back, around the hip area, it’s preventing me a little bit from doing full rotation,” said Sabalenka: “I think I’ll just take a few days off and recover.” Last year, Sabalenka lost the final of the French Open. She won her four Grand Slam titles on hard court.
