Aryna Sabalenka shocked by Sorana Cirstea's comeback win at Italian Open

Sorana Cirstea produced a major upset at the Italian Open in Rome on Saturday, beating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka after coming from a set down.

The result ended Sabalenka's run in the tournament and sent Cirstea through in one of the standout matches of the Rome event so far.

WTA coverage had already shown Sabalenka advancing in the earlier rounds and set up the matchup with Cirstea. On May 9, that meeting turned in Cirstea's favor as she recovered after losing the opening set.

The upset matters because Sabalenka is the top-ranked player in the women's game and Rome is one of the biggest clay-court events before Roland Garros. Any early exit from a player of her status reshapes the draw and opens the path for other contenders.

The available reporting confirms the comeback result, but the exact final score and match duration were not fully established in the search results. There was also no confirmed reporting of any injury issue or medical treatment for Sabalenka during the match.

The Rome tournament continues through May 17, with Cirstea's win adding another unexpected twist to the women's draw.