Former Serena Williams coach Rennae Stubbs has cast doubt on Aryna Sabalenka’s prospects at the upcoming French Open due to a lower-back injury. Sabalenka suffered an early exit at the Italian Open after a quarterfinal loss in Madrid and a withdrawal from Stuttgart. With just over a week until Roland Garros begins on May 24, the World No. 1 faces a challenging recovery.
Stubbs said Sabalenka is no longer her top pick for the clay-court major. “Sabalenka, she’s not my favorite for the French now,” she stated on her podcast, citing the Belarusian’s recent results and apparent back issue. The 28-year-old sustained the problem during her 6-2, 3-6, 5-7 loss to Sorana Cîrstea in Rome, where she took a medical timeout in the third set while trailing 3-4. Fans criticized the timing of the break, with some accusing her of gamesmanship on social media.