Sabalenka’s Canadian Open campaign ends
World number one Aryna Sabalenka experienced an unexpected defeat at the Canadian Open, weeks before she is scheduled to defend her US Open title. Sabalenka was defeated by Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in a match that lasted almost two and a half hours in Toronto. Alexandrova secured a 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-4 victory.
Sabalenka managed to recover after losing the first set, forcing the match into a decider. However, a double fault while serving to stay in the match ultimately gave the number 16 seed, Alexandrova, the win. This marks another challenging period for Sabalenka, following her exits in the quarter-finals of the French Open and the last 16 of Wimbledon.
Alexandrova commented on her strategy, stating, “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.” She expressed her happiness with the win, noting that after the second set, she thought her opportunity had passed. This victory marks Alexandrova’s third win against a World No. 1 player, including previous wins over Iga Swiatek and Sabalenka.
Alexandrova will now advance to face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals. Svitolina secured her spot by defeating American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-2 6-4. Historically, Svitolina holds a 3-1 lead in their head-to-head encounters, though Alexandrova won their last meeting in 2021.
Another notable upset in the women’s event saw third seed Jessica Pegula suffer her first career loss to Diana Shnaider. The 22-year-old Shnaider finished both sets strongly, winning 6-3 6-3. Shnaider is set to face Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals. Swiatek, the seventh seed, overcame early service difficulties to defeat 10th seed Marta Kostyuk 3-6 6-1 6-2.
Norrie’s run ends in Montreal
In the men’s event held in Montreal, British number two Cameron Norrie was defeated by 18th seed Arthur Fils. Norrie had two set-point opportunities but ultimately lost 6-2 7-6 (10-8). The match concluded in one hour and 43 minutes.
Norrie managed to save three match points in the second set, pushing the game into a tie-break. However, Fils secured a break of serve to claim the victory. Fils will proceed to the quarter-finals, where he is scheduled to play Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar. The 19-year-old Jodar caused an upset by defeating eighth seed Jiri Lehecka 6-3 6-3.
Other players who advanced to the next round include Brandon Nakashima and Luciano Darderi, both securing three-set victories. Nakashima defeated Arthur Rinderknech, while Darderi overcame Nuno Borges with a 4-6 6-3 7-5 win. During his match, Darderi notably took an espresso during a mid-match changeover.
Alexandrova’s win over Sabalenka marks her sixth WTA 1000 quarter-final appearance. She entered the tournament with an 11-18 record for the season and had dropped to number 19 in the PIF WTA Rankings after achieving a career-best ranking last year. This victory provides a significant boost in confidence for Alexandrova, suggesting a positive direction for the remainder of her season.
Alexandrova reflected on the challenges of her current season, stating that the expectations from her previous successful year might not have been helpful. She believes that a win of this magnitude helps to regain confidence and confirms that her current approach is effective. Her focus remains on continuing her current strategies.
The matches in both Toronto and Montreal have seen several top seeds exit the tournaments, setting the stage for unexpected contenders to advance in the Canadian Open.
Source: bbc.com
