Sorana Cirstea def. Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 — Italian Open 2026 R32

Match recap

Sorana Cirstea defeated Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the R32 of the Italian Open 2026.

Ranked No. 27, Sorana Cirstea handed top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka a third-round exit at the Italian Open by turning the match on return. After dropping the opener 6-2, Cirstea won 58% of her second-return points and broke six times, converting 6 of 12 break chances against Sabalenka's six. The Romanian, who now leads the head-to-head 3-1, leaned on her second serve — 51% of those points won to Sabalenka's 42% — to close out a tight third set 7-5.

Match stats

Aryna Sabalenka: 2 aces, 72% first serves, 1 double fault, 6/11 break points. Sorana Cirstea: 3 aces, 52% first serves, 2 double faults, 6/12 break points.

Profiles: Aryna Sabalenka · Sorana Cirstea — Italian Open 2026

Head-to-head

Aryna Sabalenka and Sorana Cirstea have met 5 times, with Sorana Cirstea leading the head-to-head 3–2.

• Brisbane International 2026 R16 — Aryna Sabalenka won 6-3, 6-3
• Madrid Open 2023 R64 — Aryna Sabalenka won 6-4, 6-3
• Miami Open 2023 Quarterfinal — Sorana Cirstea won 6-4, 6-4
• Miami 2023 Quarterfinal — Sorana Cirstea won 6-4, 6-4