Rennae Stubbs alerts Coco Gauff to the problem she could face later on in her career Coco Gauff faces potential long-term challenges in her tennis career, according to former six-time Grand Slam doubles champion Rennae Stubbs, who has highlighted the risks of her recent playing style. Stubbs warned that Gauff’s tendency to engage in extended three-set matches could lead to physical complications as she ages, despite her current success at the Italian Open. The 19-year-old American, who has advanced to the semifinals, has already spent nearly nine hours on court during her four singles matches in Rome, significantly more than her semifinal opponents. Gauff’s path to the semifinals included a thrilling quarterfinal victory over Mirra Andreeva, where she came from behind to secure a win. This marked her third consecutive three-set match at the tournament, a trend Stubbs has cautioned could have lasting consequences. “Physically, right now she’s young,” Stubbs explained on her podcast. “She’s going to get away with this and bounce back, but when she gets to 28, 29, 30, 31, those matches start to take their toll on your body.” She emphasized that the cumulative stress of prolonged matches could lead to issues with knees, hips, and shoulders as Gauff ages. Stubbs also pointed to technical flaws in Gauff’s serve, noting that her grip position may be limiting her effectiveness. “If you watch where her hand is on her grip,” Stubbs said, “she has her finger up the grip like she’s pointing on the grip. I’m like, get that thing down so you can get a little more wrist action.” While Gauff is working with coach Gavin MacMillan, who has helped elevate Sabalenka’s serve, Stubbs believes refining this detail could further improve her game.#iga_swiatek #coco_gauff #italian_open #rennae_stubbs #gavin_macmillan
Sabalenka suffers surprise defeat to Cirstea at Italian Open Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka endured a stunning third-round exit at the Italian Open on Saturday as she fell to 26th-ranked Sorana Cirstea in a dramatic three-set match. The world No. 1, who had appeared to be in control of the contest after taking a 2-0 lead in the second set, was outmaneuvered by the Romanian, who secured a 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory. This marked Cirstea's first triumph over a player ranked in the top 10, a milestone that carried particular significance as the 36-year-old Romanian prepares to conclude her professional career. Cirstea’s victory came after a resilient comeback, with the unseeded player capitalizing on Sabalenka’s waning momentum. Speaking after the match, Cirstea expressed her elation, stating, “I'm very, very happy. Aryna is an amazing player. I thought I played really well today. I'm working really, really hard. It's nice to have this result as payoff.” Her words underscored the magnitude of the win, which not only showcased her determination but also highlighted the unpredictable nature of tennis at the highest level. Sabalenka, meanwhile, faced challenges both on and off the court. During the final set, the Belarusian player appeared visibly troubled by lower back pain and requested a medical time-out for treatment. She later explained that her body was “limiting me from performing on the highest level,” citing a combination of lower back and hip issues that restricted her full rotation. “She stepped in and played incredible tennis. Didn’t really give me much opportunities,” Sabalenka admitted, adding that the loss was a learning experience. “We never lose, we only learn, so it's okay.” The 2023 Wimbledon champion now faces a recovery period, with plans to take days off to focus on rehabilitation.#tennis #aryna_sabalenka #sorana_cirstea #italian_open #lower_back_pain
Aryna Sabalenka Shocks by Sorana Cirstea’s Comeback Win at Italian Open Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 1, suffered her earliest defeat in more than a year as she was toppled in the third round of the Italian Open by Sorana Cirstea, a 36-year-old Romanian veteran who staged a remarkable comeback to win 2-6, 6-3, 7-5. The result marked Sabalenka’s second consecutive surprise loss of the clay-court season, following her quarter-final defeat to Hailey Baptiste at the Madrid Open. Sabalenka had entered the tournament in strong form, having won 26 of her first 27 matches in 2025, including victories at the WTA 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami. This loss ended her hopes of reaching the semifinals in any clay-court tournament this year and marked her first defeat before the quarter-final stage since February 2025. Cirstea, who will retire from professional tennis at the end of the season, continued her resurgence on clay, securing her first-ever victory over a world No 1 player. The Romanian, who has never broken into the top 20 despite a 17-year career, now sits at No 14 in the live WTA Race. This win ended a streak of 12 straight losses to top-ranked players, with Cirstea dominating the final two sets after a slow start. The match saw Sabalenka dominate the first set, but Cirstea’s aggressive play and composure in the final two sets turned the tide. Sabalenka’s lower back injury, which forced her to receive a medical timeout in the final set, appeared to limit her performance. Despite visible discomfort, she fought back to level the match at 5-5, but Cirstea’s ability to control the majority of points in the final stages sealed the victory. Sabalenka acknowledged her physical struggles in a brief press conference, stating, “I feel like I didn’t play well from the beginning till the end.#jannik_sinner #aryna_sabalenka #sorana_cirstea #italian_open #wta_race
Sabalenka suffers second defeat in three matches Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, suffered her second defeat in three matches at the Italian Open as she fell to Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the third round. The Belarusian, who had previously lost to Hailey Baptiste at the Madrid Open on 28 April, faced another setback just 11 days later, marking her earliest loss of the year. The defeat ended her streak of reaching the quarter-finals or better for 17 consecutive tournaments. Sabalenka’s loss to Cirstea, ranked 27th in the world, came after a three-set match that saw the 28-year-old struggle with her physical form. She missed six match points during the encounter and was forced to take a medical time-out in the third set for treatment on her lower back. Despite her efforts to mount a comeback, Cirstea’s resilience proved decisive. The Romanian, who is retiring at the end of the season, capitalized on key moments, including a crucial break after Sabalenka’s serve at 5-4 in the third set. Sabalenka’s performance was marred by inconsistencies, particularly in her serve, which had been a key factor in her rise to the top of the rankings. She broke her serve six times during the match, winning only 56% of points after her first serve despite making 72% of her first serves. Her second serve fared even worse, with her opponents taking 11 of 26 points behind it. Sabalenka admitted her body was limiting her ability to perform at her best, stating, “I feel like I didn’t play well from the beginning till the end. My body was limiting me from performing on the highest level.” The loss left Sabalenka with a 4-2 record on clay heading into the French Open, a tournament she aims to dominate.#aryna_sabalenka #djokovic #french_open #sorana_cirstea #italian_open
Marta Kostyuk Withdraws from Italian Open Due to Hip and Ankle Issues Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine withdrew from the Italian Open on Tuesday, citing hip and ankle injuries after securing titles at the Madrid Open and Rouen tournament. The decision came as the Italian Open began, with Kostyuk explaining that her body was not ready to compete. She is currently ranked No. 15 in the world following her Madrid victory, which marked her second clay-court title of the year. Kostyuk, who had also won the Rouen title in France the week before Madrid, is on an 11-match winning streak. In a post on her Instagram account, she stated that she had hoped to compete in Rome but was forced to withdraw due to ongoing physical issues. “After the best stretch of my career, I was looking forward to Rome. But sometimes your body has other plans,” she wrote. “Over the past few days, I’ve been dealing with a hip issue, and with my ankle still not fully at 100%, it’s just not smart to keep pushing right now.” The Ukrainian player emphasized that her focus would now shift to recovery and preparation for the French Open, which starts on May 24. She mentioned that her ankle, which had been recovering from a previous injury, was still not fully healed. Kostyuk’s withdrawal from the Italian Open highlights the challenges of maintaining peak performance while managing physical health. Her recent titles in Madrid and Rouen have positioned her as a strong contender for the French Open, but her decision to step back underscores the importance of prioritizing long-term fitness. Kostyuk’s Instagram post reflected her determination to return to competition, stating, “Now it’s time to recover and get ready for Paris.#french_open #italian_open #madrid_open #martakostyuk #rouen_tournament
Alex Eala's Clay-Court Challenge: Can Her Hard-Court Momentum Translate to Success on Red? Alex Eala’s recent success on hard courts has positioned her as a rising star in women’s tennis, but the transition to clay presents a significant test for the Filipino player. After a strong 2025 season that included a quarterfinal run at the Dubai Tennis Championships and consecutive Round of 16 appearances at the BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open, Eala climbed to a career-high ranking of No. 29 in the WTA. However, her momentum has since waned, with her Miami semifinal points from the previous year slipping away and her ranking dropping to No. 45. This decline, while notable, does not signal a reversal of her trajectory but rather a natural correction as she navigates the challenges of the clay-court season. The shift to clay has proven particularly difficult for Eala. Last season, her performance on the red surface was marked by early exits and a stark contrast to her hard-court success. In the WTA 125 event in Oeiras, she fell in the round of 16, followed by quick exits at the Madrid Open and Italian Open. Her Grand Slam debut at the French Open ended in a first-round loss to Emiliana Arango, adding to a 2-4 win-loss record on clay in 2025. These results highlight the unique challenges of adapting to clay, a surface where her game has yet to fully flourish. Despite these struggles, Eala’s pedigree and dedication offer reasons for optimism. The 21-year-old has returned to the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain, a training ground that has shaped the careers of some of the sport’s greatest clay specialists. Under Nadal’s mentorship, Eala is refining her technical and mental approach to the surface, building on the foundation that has already propelled her to international prominence.#alex_eala #rafa_nadal_academy #linz_open #mutua_madrid_open #italian_open
