World No. 1 tennis player Arina Sabalenka praised Romanian Sorana Cîrstea after her loss in the third round of the Rome tournament on Saturday. Sabalenka expressed her respect for Cîrstea, who is retiring at the end of the season at 36 years old.

“She’s a fighter. It’s a bit sad to see her leaving the circuit, but she’s one of those players who fight no matter the situation,” Sabalenka said. “I thought she could stay in the circuit for a longer period. This is her choice and we all respect it. I simply wish her the best season possible to end her career.”

Sabalenka also highlighted the exceptional level of play from Cîrstea. “I don't think I played well from start to finish. I started very well, but then my level dropped a bit. I felt my body was holding me back from playing at my best level. On the other hand, she had a great game and played incredible tennis. She didn’t give me many opportunities. It was a tough match, but you never lose, you only learn.”

Regarding her physical condition, Sabalenka mentioned a lower back issue, which affected her performance. “It’s an issue with my lower back and hip, which prevented me from completing a full rotation. I’ll take a few days off to recover. That’s the plan for now.”

Sorana Cîrstea defeated Arina Sabalenka, winning 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, in a thrilling match in the third round of the Rome tournament!