Cirstea stuns World No. 1 Sabalenka 7-5 in third, reaches Italian Open Round of 16
Synopsis
In her farewell season, Sorana Cirstea delivered a career-defining moment by dismantling world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka from a set down at the Italian Open. The Romanian's comeback—only her first victory over a reigning world No. 1—caps an emotional resurgence that has already yielded a home title in Cluj-Napoca and now threatens to derail Sabalenka's bid for another major title run.
Key Takeaways
Sorana Cirstea defeated world No.
1 Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Saturday at the Italian Open 2026 .
The victory is Cirstea's first career win over a reigning world No.
1 and represents only the third defeat Sabalenka has suffered in 2026.
Cirstea , ranked No.
27, is competing in her final professional season after announcing her retirement plans in January.
Sabalenka required a medical timeout for lower back treatment during the third set as the match intensity escalated.
Cirstea will face 13th seed Linda Noskova in the Round of 16, with a win sending her to the Rome quarter-finals for the first time.
Sorana Cirstea pulled off one of the season's most stunning upsets on Saturday at the Italian Open 2026 in Rome, storming back from a set and a break down to topple world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 and book a place in the Round of 16 at the Foro Italico. The victory marked Cirstea's first career win over a reigning world No. 1 and caps a remarkable late-career resurgence for the Romanian veteran, who announced in January that the 2026 season would be her final as a professional after two decades on tour.
How the match unfolded
Sabalenka dominated the opening stages, claiming the first set 6-2 and racing to a 2-0 lead in the second. The Belarusian had not dropped a set against Cirstea in any prior meeting, including a straight-sets victory in Brisbane earlier this year. However, the momentum shifted sharply as Sabalenka's intensity waned and Cirstea seized control with aggressive baseline play and tactical variation. The Romanian broke serve repeatedly to level the match and force a decisive third set.
The comeback and physical toll
In the third set, Cirstea continued her relentless pressure, breaking Sabalenka three times to secure a 7-5 victory. Notably, Sabalenka required a medical timeout midway through the set for treatment to her lower back as the physical intensity escalated. The match lasted 2 hours and 14 minutes, with Cirstea's resilience ultimately proving decisive.
Significance of the upset
The victory represents only the third defeat Sabalenka has suffered in 2026 and marks her earliest tournament exit in more than a year—her previous defeat before the quarter-finals came in Dubai in 2025. For Cirstea, ranked No. 27, the win underscores a resurgent farewell campaign. She claimed her fourth singles title in Cluj-Napoca on home soil earlier this year and has compiled an impressive record across the season.
Road ahead
Cirstea will face 13th seed Linda Noskova in the Round of 16 after Noskova defeated Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine 6-1, 6-3. A victory would send Cirstea into the Rome quarter-finals for the first time in her career. When asked about her retirement plans following the upset, Cirstea joked that only a tournament title in Rome might force her to reconsider stepping away from professional tennis.
Point of View
Who has dominated 2026 with only three losses, has now suffered her earliest tournament exit in over a year against a player ranked 26 spots lower and playing her final season. What makes this victory sting for Sabalenka is not the loss itself but the manner of it—a collapse in intensity after controlling the match, compounded by a physical issue that forced medical intervention. For Cirstea, this is vindication that late-career resurgence is possible, even against the sport's elite. Whether she can translate this momentum into a title run at Rome remains the season's most compelling subplot.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Sorana Cirstea defeat Aryna Sabalenka at the Italian Open?
Cirstea staged a dramatic comeback from a set and a break down to defeat Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Saturday. After losing the first set and falling behind 2-0 in the second, Cirstea broke serve repeatedly, leveled the match, and then dominated the third set with three breaks of serve to secure the upset victory in 2 hours and 14 minutes.
Is this Cirstea's first win over a world No. 1?
Yes, this is Cirstea's first career victory over a reigning world No. 1. She had never defeated Sabalenka in any prior meeting, including a straight-sets loss in Brisbane earlier this year.
Why is Cirstea's victory particularly significant?
The victory is significant because it is only the third defeat Sabalenka has suffered in 2026 and her earliest tournament exit in more than a year. For Cirstea , ranked No. 27 and playing in her announced final season, the win represents a career-defining moment and her first victory over a reigning world No. 1.
Who will Cirstea face next at the Italian Open?
Cirstea will face 13th seed Linda Noskova in the Round of 16. Noskova advanced by defeating Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-1, 6-3. A win would send Cirstea into the Rome quarter-finals for the first time in her career.
When is Cirstea retiring?
Cirstea announced in January 2026 that the 2026 season would be her final campaign as a professional after two decades on tour. However, she joked after the Sabalenka victory that only a tournament title in Rome might force her to reconsider her retirement plans.
