Overview
- Ekaterina Alexandrova beat Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4 in the Canadian Open round of 16 on Sunday, ending a two-hour 29-minute match when Sabalenka double-faulted while serving to stay in the decider.
- The defeat was the latest in a difficult stretch for Sabalenka, who has three WTA titles this year but has lost six of 10 three-set matches in 2026 according to OptaAce data cited by coverage.
- Toronto’s draw has been destabilized by multiple upsets that removed several top seeds, leaving Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff as the only Top 5 seeds still in the field.
- Despite the early exit, Sabalenka will retain the WTA world No.1 ranking heading into the North American hard-court swing because Rybakina cannot overtake her even if she wins the Canadian Open.
- The result boosts Alexandrova into a quarterfinal against Elina Svitolina and adds momentum-shift implications for Cincinnati seedings and players’ form checks ahead of the US Open, where Sabalenka is the defending champion.