Aryna Sabalenka is heading into Wimbledon with a potential problem that could derail her grass-court campaign before it even begins. The world number one has struggled through an underwhelming clay-court season, failing to reach the semifinals in both Madrid and Rome. With just 10 days left before Roland Garros, she's running out of time to find her form.

But it's not just her results that are raising eyebrows. Sabalenka has been battling lower back pain—an issue she openly acknowledged after her defeat to Sorana Cirstea in Rome. That loss has sparked serious concerns among tennis insiders, including six-time Grand Slam doubles champion Rennae Stubbs.

Speaking on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, Stubbs didn't mince words: "Sabalenka, she's not my favourite for the French now." She pointed out that the back problem could become an even bigger headache once the tour shifts to grass. "Playing on grass is worse than your butt or your back," Stubbs warned, noting that grass courts demand players stay low and handle unpredictable bounces—a nightmare combination for anyone nursing a back injury.

Sabalenka's Grand Slam history only adds to the pressure. She reached her first French Open final last year, only to lose to Coco Gauff after taking the opening set. And while she's made three semifinal appearances at Wimbledon, the championship match has remained just out of reach. For a player of her caliber, that's a glaring gap in an otherwise stellar resume.

Despite her recent struggles, Sabalenka will still enter Roland Garros as the top seed when the main draw kicks off on Sunday, May 24. But with Stubbs' concerns echoing through the tennis world, the question remains: can she overcome her physical setbacks in time to make a serious run at the grass-court major?