Sabalenka's Back Injury Raises Concerns Ahead of Wimbledon

World number one Aryna Sabalenka is facing potential challenges heading into the upcoming Wimbledon tournament due to a lingering lower back injury. The Belarusian tennis star has experienced an underwhelming clay court season, failing to reach the semifinals in both Madrid and Rome. She recently admitted to dealing with back pain following her defeat to Sorana Cirstea at the Italian Open. Former Grand Slam doubles champion Rennae Stubbs expressed significant concerns on her podcast, noting that Sabalenka is no longer her favorite for the French Open. Stubbs highlighted that back issues are particularly problematic on grass courts, where players must stay low and handle unpredictable bounces, potentially exacerbating physical strain. With only days remaining before Roland Garros, Sabalenka still enters as the top seed despite her recent form. She has yet to win titles at either the French Open or Wimbledon, having reached the final in Paris last year and three semifinals at Wimbledon. This analysis suggests her physical condition could hinder her performance in the upcoming major tournaments on clay and grass surfaces.