Written with the help of artificial-intelligence tools and checked by automated controls.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated in the round of 16 of the WTA 1000 in Toronto by Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova, after three tight sets (7-6, 4-6, 6-4). A defeat that reshuffles the cards in the women's draw less than three weeks before the US Open, and reminds us that even the boss of the circuit can stumble against a player determined to seize her chance.
A one-sided third set until the finish
Sabalenka had nevertheless regained the upper hand in the second set, erasing a break deficit to level at one set apiece.
Sabalenka had nevertheless regained the upper hand in the second set, erasing a break deficit to level at one set apiece. The third act turned into a nightmare. Alexandrova, the sixteenth seed, broke early and then led 5-2, serving for the match. A match point at 5-3 seemed to seal the deal. The Belarusian saved three match points in total, came back to 5-4, but the Russian did not flinch on her second opportunity to close it out.
The double Grand Slam winner this season, crowned in Melbourne and then at Roland-Garros, had not lost before the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 since Cincinnati in 2025. Eleven consecutive tournaments at this level without leaving the competition so early. A streak brutally interrupted on the hard courts of Sobeys Stadium.
Alexandrova, the eternally underestimated
At thirty-one years old, Ekaterina Alexandrova records the biggest victory of her career. The native of Chelyabinsk, long based in the Czech Republic, had never beaten a world number one in a tournament. Her record includes four titles on the circuit, all won on fast surfaces, but her last victory against a top-10 player dated back more than a year. This success in Toronto radically changes the perception the circuit could have of her level against the very best.
Her tennis is based on ultra-early ball striking and flat shots that suffocate the opponent. Against Sabalenka, this calculated aggression worked wonders. Where many players retreat under the Belarusian's power, Alexandrova systematically moved forward in the court, especially on second serves, to dictate the exchange on both backhand and forehand. The result: an impeccable tactical performance that eventually made the world number one crack in the decisive moments.
A suddenly open draw
Sabalenka's premature elimination completely reshuffles the forces in the bottom half of the draw. The Belarusian was the overwhelming favorite to reach the final, thanks to her two Majors won this year and impressive consistency in WTA 1000 events. Her early exit frees up a spot that several players can now aspire to fill.
Alexandrova, for her part, finds herself with a golden opportunity to reach the semifinals of a tournament of this category for the first time in her career. Until now, her best result in a WTA 1000 remained a quarterfinal. Crossing that threshold on Canadian hard courts, a few days before heading to New York, would send a resounding signal.
Women's tennis reminds us once again that no hierarchy is set in stone. Alexandrova has just demonstrated it brilliantly on the court at Sobeys Stadium, and all the contenders for the US Open crown have certainly taken note of this performance that changes the dynamics of the end of the season on fast surfaces.