Amanda Anisimova’s already difficult clay swing took another hit on Tuesday at the Italian Open in Rome. The American withdrew just one hour before her first-round match, citing a left wrist injury that the tournament later confirmed in an official statement. That left the draw a hole where a dangerous shotmaker had been, and it extended a grim streak for Anisimova, who remains winless on clay in 2026.
The Italian Open issued a brief notice acknowledging the late scratch, and tournament staff scrambled to adjust the schedule. It’s a tough blow for Anisimova, whose game on this surface once promised deep runs; her last-minute exit means she’ll leave the Foro Italico without hitting a single competitive ball, and the clay segment of her season now carries the weight of that zero in the win column.
While Anisimova’s withdrawal stole the early headlines, the Romanian contingent brought a different energy. Sorana Cirstea played with easy power and control, sprinting through her first set in a performance that felt both efficient and ominous for the rest of the field. The Romanian, whose name often surfaces as an unpredictable threat at big events, looked fully locked in. And she wasn’t alone. Jaqueline Cristian, another Romanian, had been mentioned among the tournament favorites in local reports, and her compatriot’s form only added to the optimism. By day’s end, Romanians were set for second-round clashes against either Tatjana Maria or Karolina Pliskova, a pair of seasoned veterans who will need to be sharp.
The day also showcased teen sensation Mirra Andreeva, who simply destroyed Antonia Ruzic in a match that was never competitive. Andreeva’s dismantling of Ruzic, paired with Cirstea’s assertive start, gave the tournament a jolt of storylines even as Anisimova’s name came off the order of play. The juxtaposition was stark: one player forced out by injury before she could even begin, another racing through a formality of a first set, and a rising star blowing through an overmatched opponent.
For the Italian Open, the show goes on without one of its most watchable wild cards. For Anisimova, the waiting continues—on the wrist to heal, on a clay win to materialize. And for Cirstea and the Romanians, the path ahead looks promising if they can carry Tuesday’s momentum through the week.