World number one Sabalenka knocked out of Canadian Open by Alexandrova in Toronto

Sabalenka falls in Toronto

World number one Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated from the Canadian Open in the fourth round, falling to Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4 in a match lasting 2 hours and 29 minutes. The 16th-seeded Russian, ranked world No. 19, secured her quarter-final berth after nearly two and a half hours of aggressive shot-making. Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam champion and reigning US Open winner, recovered from a set down to force a decider but was unable to halt Alexandrova's momentum in the final set.

The match began promisingly for the top seed, who broke Alexandrova's serve to go up 2-0 in the first set. Alexandrova responded by winning four straight games to lead 4-2. Sabalenka served at 46.2 percent in the first set and recorded five double faults, winning just nine points on her second serve. Alexandrova took the opening set in a tiebreak.

Second-set fightback falls short

Sabalenka raised her level in the second set. After saving three break points, she broke Alexandrova's serve once, which proved enough to level the match. The third set proved decisive. Alexandrova broke Sabalenka's serve three times for a total of seven breaks in the match, including the final game. Serving to stay in the match at 4-5, Sabalenka saved two match points, but a double fault on the third handed victory to the Russian. It was Sabalenka's seventh double fault of the day.

Alexandrova's reaction

Alexandrova described her mindset during the match.

“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.”

“I'm super happy that I could win because after the second set, I thought (the chance) was already past me.”

Alexandrova will face Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals, after Svitolina defeated American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-2 6-4. Svitolina, also 31 years old, is ranked ninth in the WTA.

Other results in Toronto and Montreal

In other women's matches, seventh seed Iga Swiatek overcame opening-set service troubles to defeat 10th seed Marta Kostyuk 3-6 6-1 6-2. Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam winner, retired to the locker room after Kostyuk broke her serve four times during a 39-minute opening set, but returned looking much improved. Third seed Jessica Pegula suffered a first career loss to 22-year-old Diana Shnaider, falling 6-3 6-3. Shnaider will face Swiatek next.

In the men's event in Montreal, British number two Cameron Norrie was defeated 6-2 7-6(10-8) by 18th seed Arthur Fils of France in one hour and 43 minutes. Norrie saved three match points in the second set to force a tiebreak, but the Frenchman broke his serve to seal the win. Fils will meet Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar in the quarter-finals, after the 19-year-old upset eighth seed Jiri Lehecka 6-3 6-3. Brandon Nakashima and Luciano Darderi also progressed with three-set victories over Arthur Rinderknech and Nuno Borges respectively. Italian Darderi used a mid-match changeover to enjoy an espresso during his 4-6 6-3 7-5 win.

Looking ahead to the US Open

The defeat marks the latest setback in a difficult summer for Sabalenka, who was knocked out in the quarter-finals and last 16 of the French Open and Wimbledon respectively. She has not won a tournament since winning Indian Wells and the Miami Open back-to-back in March, and has reached only one semi-final in her last six tournaments. Sabalenka remains at three singles titles in 2026 as she prepares to defend her 2025 US Open championship, which begins later this month. The Canadian Open runs from 2 to 13 August in Toronto and has a total prize fund of over 7.4 million dollars. Last year's surprise champion Victoria Mboko did not participate due to injury.