Overview
- Ekaterina Alexandrova defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4 in the Canadian Open round of 16 on Saturday, ending Sabalenka’s run in Toronto.
- The match finished when Sabalenka double-faulted while serving to stay in the third set after she had earlier saved two match points.
- Sabalenka will nevertheless remain WTA world No. 1 going into the North American hard-court swing, so the loss affects momentum rather than immediate ranking position.
- Alexandrova’s win follows a recent on-court collapse in Memphis and advances her to a quarter-final meeting with Elina Svitolina, giving her a confidence boost after recent health and equipment troubles.
- The upset highlights a wider pattern in Sabalenka’s 2026 season — despite the Sunshine Double in March she has struggled in deciding sets, which raises pressure to find form quickly at Cincinnati before defending her US Open title.