TORONTO: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka suffered a surprise fourth-round defeat at the WTA Toronto Masters on Saturday, losing to Russian 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in a hard-fought three-set battle.
Alexandrova defeated the four-time Grand Slam champion from Belarus 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and 29 minutes to advance to the quarter-finals of the National Bank Open.
The victory was particularly significant for Alexandrova as it levelled her career head-to-head record against Sabalenka at 5-5. The Russian will next face either American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova or Ukraine’s ninth seed Elina Svitolina.
Alexandrova takes tight opening set
Sabalenka made a strong start, breaking Alexandrova to take a 2-0 lead. However, the Russian responded impressively by winning the next four games.
Sabalenka fought back to level the set at 4-4 after producing a winning forehand drop volley. Both players then surrendered service breaks late in the set, with double faults contributing to the decisive moments and forcing a tie-break.
Alexandrova held her nerve in the tie-break, winning five of the final six points. She sealed the opening set when Sabalenka sent a cross-court forehand wide.
Sabalenka fights back
The world No. 1 responded in the second set and managed to regain control of the contest.
Alexandrova surrendered a break after sending a forehand long, allowing Sabalenka to move 4-3 ahead. The Belarusian then held serve in the next two games to close out the set 6-4 and force a deciding set.
With both players competing aggressively from the baseline, the match remained closely contested heading into the final set.
Alexandrova holds nerve in deciding set
Alexandrova gained the early advantage in the decider when Sabalenka sent a forehand into the net, giving the Russian a 3-1 lead.
However, Sabalenka immediately applied pressure and earned a chance to level the set. Alexandrova double-faulted in the seventh game to surrender her advantage.
The decisive moments came in the 10th game. Sabalenka produced three unforced errors to hand Alexandrova match and break points.
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The Belarusian saved the first two opportunities, hitting a service winner and then an ace. But she could not complete the comeback.
Sabalenka sent a backhand beyond the baseline before committing her sixth and final double fault of the match, allowing Alexandrova to claim a major upset.
Alexandrova embraces aggressive approach
Speaking after the match, Alexandrova said she had entered the contest without major expectations and knew she would need to take risks against the world’s top-ranked player.
“I didn’t have any expectations before the match,” Alexandrova said. “I knew it was going to be super difficult when I walked on the court.”
She added that taking an aggressive approach was essential to creating opportunities against Sabalenka.
The defeat is a setback for Sabalenka as she prepares for the US Open, where she is scheduled to pursue a third consecutive title next month. Alexandrova, meanwhile, moves into the Toronto quarter-finals with confidence after eliminating the tournament’s top seed.
