Sabalenka Rome Exit Stuns Italian Open Fans
Sabalenka Rome Exit became the biggest surprise of the Italian Open on Saturday. World number one Aryna Sabalenka lost to Sorana Cirstea in a dramatic third-round match in Rome. Cirstea fought back strongly after dropping the first set. She won 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 and reached the next round. As a result, Sabalenka’s hopes of winning her first Italian Open title ended early. The Belarusian star looked frustrated during the match. In addition, she struggled with several unforced errors on centre court. Sabalenka also took a medical timeout for a possible left hip issue. Therefore, questions now surround her fitness before the French Open. Cirstea celebrated a major career milestone after the victory. She defeated a world number one for the first time and will now face Linda Noskova.
Gauff Advances as Paolini Falls
Coco Gauff survived a tough battle against Argentina’s Solana Sierra. The French Open champion won 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 after more than two hours on court. Gauff has faced mixed results on clay this season. However, the American player stayed calm and secured an important win in Rome. Meanwhile, Jasmine Paolini suffered an emotional defeat in front of home fans. Elise Mertens beat the Italian star 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 after a tense contest. Paolini missed three match points in the second set. As a result, she failed to defend her Italian Open title. She admitted disappointment after the match but praised her competitive spirit. In the men’s draw, Felix Auger-Aliassime also exited early. Argentina’s Mariano Navone defeated the Canadian in straight sets. Earlier, Novak Djokovic crashed out after losing to qualifier Dino Prizmic in the second round.
