Iva Jovic: Cirstea Stuns Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in Rome

Sorana Cirstea beat iva jovic? No — Sorana Cirstea beat Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Saturday in Rome, and the result sent her into the fourth round of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia. The 36-year-old came back from a set down against the world No. 1 and top seed in a match that lasted 2 hours and 14 minutes.

Rome Turns on Sabalenka

Cirstea had never won a set in six previous matches against a top-ranked opponent before this one, and she had lost 6-3, 6-3 to Sabalenka in January at the Brisbane International. This time, Sabalenka led 6-2, 2-0 before Cirstea flipped the match and broke her three times in the final set.

The win carried extra weight because Cirstea announced in December that the 2026 season would be her last on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz. She is ranked No. 27 and entered Rome with a 25-7 record this year after winning her fourth career singles title in Cluj-Napoca in February.

Cirstea’s Final Season Push

Sabalenka took a medical timeout for what appeared to be a lower-back injury midway through the deciding set, and she said her body was limiting her from performing at the highest level. She also said Cirstea “stepped in and played incredible tennis,” and that she “didn't really give me much opportunities.”

Sabalenka’s loss was her third of the season and her earliest exit from a tournament since the 2025 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Afterward, she said, “I feel like I didn't play well from the beginning 'til the end. I started really well, but then I kind of dropped the level,” and added, “That was a tough one. But I guess we never lose; we only learn, so it's OK.”

Linda Noskova Awaits

Cirstea now moves on to face No. 13 seed Linda Noskova in the round of 16. Noskova reached that stage by beating Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-1, 6-3, setting up a matchup that puts Cirstea one round deeper than she had reached in any of her eight career trips to Rome.

After the match, Cirstea said, “I’m very happy with the win. I thought I played really well today. I’m working really really hard. It’s nice to have this result as payoff.” She also said, “She doesn’t need an introduction,” and added, “Maybe if I win the tournament, I promise I’ll think about it.”