World number one Sabalenka upset by Alexandrova at Canadian Open

Ekaterina Alexandrov took down four-time Grand Slam singles champion Aryna Sabalenka successful a three-set marathon successful Toronto.

World fig 1 ‌Aryna Sabalenka suffered a setback successful her US Open ⁠build-up aft ⁠she was beaten 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4 by Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova successful the 4th circular of the Canadian Open ⁠in Toronto connected Saturday.

The 16th-seeded Alexandrova fought a hard battle, lasting astir 2 and a fractional hours, to unafraid her quarterfinal berth.

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Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam champion and reigning US Open winner, recovered from a acceptable down to unit a decider but was incapable to halt Alexandrova’s assertive shot-making successful the last set.

The Belarusian ‌broke aboriginal successful the opening acceptable earlier Alexandrova rallied to unit a tiebreak, which the Russian won to determination ahead.

Sabalenka responded by seizing power of the 2nd acceptable with a interruption for a 4-3 pb earlier serving retired to level the match.

Alexandrova held her nervus successful the decider arsenic ⁠Sabalenka’s mistake number rose. Serving to enactment ⁠in the lucifer astatine 4-5, the apical effect saved 2 lucifer points, but a treble responsibility connected the 3rd handed triumph to the Russian.

“I conscionable tried to ⁠play each azygous constituent arsenic if it was the past 1 due to the fact that with her, you ⁠don’t [get] a batch of chances during ⁠the match,” Alexandrova said successful her on-court interview.

“Honestly, I was trying not to deliberation astir the people oregon anything. Just deed the ball, and that’s it.

“I’m ace ‌happy that I could triumph due to the fact that aft the 2nd set, I thought (the chance) was already past me.”

Alexandrova volition look Ukraine’s Elina ‌Svitolina, ‌who defeated American eighth effect Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 6-4 for a spot successful the semifinals.

Aryna Sabalenka congratulates Ekaterina Alexandrova, right, connected her fourth-round triumph astatine the Canadian Open, August 8, 2026 [John E Sokolowski/Imagn Images via Reuters]