World number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered an early exit at the Italian Open in Rome on Saturday, losing in the third round to Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea and raising concerns about her fitness ahead of the French Open, which begins in Paris on May 24.

Sabalenka, a 28-year-old Belarusian and four-time Grand Slam champion, lost 2–6, 6–3, 7–5 to Cirstea, needing medical treatment during the match. The world number one acknowledged that her body had held her back, pointing to a lower back problem linked to her hip that restricted her movement and rotation.