TENNIS: Sabalenka's French Open hopes clouded by injury and claycourt struggles

Aryna Sabalenka arrives at the French Open as the world number one, but cracks are beginning to show in her armor, with an injury cloud casting doubt over her pursuit of a long-awaited maiden Grand Slam title on clay.

The Belarusian remains a formidable force on the women’s tour, with her trademark power intact. However, the 28-year-old comes to Roland Garros with questions over her form and ability on the slower, punishing surface.

Sabalenka boasts four Grand Slam trophies – two Australian Open crowns and two U.S. Open titles – underscoring her dominance on hard courts. Yet, clay has remained an unconquered territory.

Last year, Sabalenka stood one set away from the French Open title before Coco Gauff turned the match into a grueling test of endurance. The contest ended with Sabalenka struggling through 100 unforced errors.

Her 2026 campaign had looked unstoppable, with 26 wins from her first 27 matches. The only blemish came in an Australian Open final loss to Elena Rybakina. She also captured the ‘Sunshine Double,’ defeating Rybakina and Gauff in the finals at Indian Wells and Miami. But her momentum faltered when she transitioned to clay.

Sabalenka’s Claycourt Woes

Sabalenka’s struggles on clay began with a surprising quarterfinal exit to Hailey Baptiste at the Madrid Open, where the American saved six match points to complete a stunning upset.

In Rome, she fell in the third round to Sorana Cirstea, 36, who found one last surge in her career and left the world number one searching for answers. More concerning was Sabalenka calling for the physio as she struggled with her movement.

“It’s my lower back, connected to the hip, which was kind of limiting me from full rotation. We’re just going to have some days off and focus on recovery. That’s the plan for now,” Sabalenka said after her Rome exit.

“I didn’t play well from the beginning to the end. I started really well, but then my level dropped. I felt like my body was limiting me from performing at the highest level.”

Sabalenka will arrive in Paris without a claycourt semi-final this season, recording just four wins from six matches on the surface. The sense of vulnerability could be apparent to the rest of the field.

-Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris/Reuters