Sabalenka exits Canadian Open after Alexandrova upset

World number one Aryna Sabalenka was knocked out of the Canadian Open in Toronto on Saturday, losing in the fourth round to 16th-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova. The result ended Sabalenka’s run as top seed at the tournament and sent Alexandrova into the quarterfinals.

Alexandrova completed the upset in a match that lasted two and a half hours, winning 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4. The outcome reshaped the late stages of the draw and delivered a notable result as the tennis calendar moves toward the season’s final Grand Slam.

Toronto fourth-round match turns on tight moments

Aryna Sabalenka The opening set proved decisive in tone, with Alexandrova taking it in a tiebreak, 7-6(3). Sabalenka, described as a four-time Grand Slam champion, responded in the second set by leveling the contest 6-4 to force a deciding set. In the third set, Sabalenka’s play became less steady, with her error count rising late in the match, officials said in match reporting. The match ended on a double fault at match point, sealing Alexandrova’s 6-4 set and the overall victory. Alexandrova books Svitolina quarterfinal Alexandrova advanced by sustaining an aggressive approach from start to finish, keeping pressure on the top-ranked opponent. After the win, she explained her mindset: “I just tried to play every single point as if it was the last one because with her, you don’t get a lot of chances during the match.”

Her next opponent will be Elina Svitolina. Svitolina moved into the quarterfinals after a straight-sets win over Amanda Anisimova, setting up a new matchup in Toronto’s final eight.

US Open timing adds weight to the defeat

Sabalenka’s loss comes with the US Open scheduled to begin on August 23. The fourth-round exit disrupts her build-up to that tournament, leaving the top seed with fewer competitive matches remaining before the final Grand Slam of the season.

While the Canadian Open continues without her, the immediate focus for Sabalenka shifts to how she uses the remaining lead-in period before August 23. What remains unclear is how much limited match play, as described in tournament coverage, will affect her rhythm heading into New York.