Sabalenka, Paolini headline shock exits at Italian Open

Cirstea traded powerfully with Sabalenka from the baseline and repeatedly disrupted the Belarusian with aggressive approaches to the net, securing a crucial break in the eighth game of the second set. Sabalenka struggled against the variety in Cirstea's game and began piling up unforced errors. In the fifth game of the deciding set, Cirstea converted her fourth break point opportunity to earn another break before serving out the match, claiming her first career victory over a top-ranked player. Against the top girls, you cannot just play safe. They are not going to give it to you. You have to earn it, Cirstea said after the win. Paolini, who had survived a scare in the previous round, fell to Belgium's Elise Mertens 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 after two hours and 41 minutes. Mertens saved three match points in the second set before completing the comeback. Assessing Mertens' performance, Paolini said, I think she's very solid. You have to play always one more ball. She has a very good hand when she defends. Her serve is also very good. In the men's draw, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner defeated Austria's Sebastian Ofner 6-3, 6-4 to extend his Masters-level winning streak to 29 matches. Argentina's Mariano Navone defeated Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) to reach the third round, while qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili upset Shelton 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3.