Sabalenka exits Rome with injury concern ahead of French Open

ROME: Aryna Sabalenka’s French Open preparations suffered a setback following a third-round defeat by Sorana Cirstea at the Italian Open, ​with the world No. 1 now looking to shake ‌off an injury ahead of the Grand Slam that begins this month.

Sabalenka needed treatment late in her meeting with Cirstea on Saturday before she ​fell 2-6 6-3 7-5 for her second defeat in ​three matches after a quarterfinal loss to Hailey Baptiste at ⁠the Madrid Open last month.

“I feel like I didn’t play ​well from the beginning till the end. I started really well, ​but I dropped the level,” four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka said in Rome.

“I felt like my body was limiting me from performing at the highest ​level. She stepped in and played incredible tennis. She didn’t ​really give me many opportunities.

“That was a tough one. But I guess we ‌never ⁠lose; we only learn, so it’s okay.”

Sabalenka’s disappointing claycourt swing follows a stellar run on hardcourts, during which she captured the Brisbane title, reached the Australian Open final and claimed back-to-back trophies ​in Indian Wells ​and Miami.

The ⁠Belarusian said she now hoped to recover her fitness in time for the French Open, which ​gets underway in Paris on May 24, after losing ​last ⁠year’s final against Coco Gauff.

“I’d say that probably it’s like my lower back, connected to the hip, which limited my full rotation,” ⁠the 28-year-old ​added.

“I guess we’re just going to ​have some days off. We’re going to spend it on recovery. That’s the plan ​for now.”