Sabalenka and Zverev exit Cincinnati Open in fourth-round upsets
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka and top seed Alexander Zverev were eliminated from the Cincinnati Open, with rain delays and late-night finishes marking a turbulent round of action.
The Cincinnati Open witnessed significant disruption to its top seeds on a rainy fourth-round day, as World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka and top seed Alexander Zverev were both eliminated. The upsets occurred within hours of one another, with Sabalenka’s match concluding shortly after midnight into Thursday, while Zverev’s contest was interrupted by weather delays.
In the women’s draw, 35th-ranked Czech player Sara Bejlek defeated Sabalenka 7-6 (9/7), 6-4. The match saw Bejlek rally from a 1-5 deficit in the opening set tiebreaker to secure the first set in 65 minutes. She then broke Sabalenka’s serve three times in the second set, overcoming a 4-1 deficit to close out the match with a love game. This victory marks Bejlek’s first win over a top 10 player and sets up a quarterfinal match against American Madison Keys.
On the men’s side, American Tommy Paul defeated German Alexander Zverev 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4. Paul saved a match point during the second-set tiebreaker before taking control in the deciding set. The match was delayed for 90 minutes in the seventh game of the second set due to rain, with two additional five-minute pauses to dry the court. Paul’s victory extends his record against Zverev, marking his third win in their last four meetings.
Australian Alex de Minaur, the fifth seed, was also eliminated in the fourth round, losing 6-3, 6-4 to Frenchman Arthur Fils. Other notable results included Canadian second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime falling 6-3, 6-4 to American Frances Tiafoe. American sixth seed Taylor Fritz advanced by defeating Australian Chris O’Connell 6-4, 6-3.
The tournament serves as a crucial preparation event for the US Open, which is scheduled to commence on 30 August. Sabalenka’s exit adds to a string of recent setbacks, including fourth-round exits at the Toronto Masters and Wimbledon, and a quarterfinal loss at Roland Garros. Zverev, the reigning French Open champion, will not progress further in Cincinnati.
Defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek advanced to the quarterfinals, defeating Diane Parry 6-3, 6-3. She is set to face Elena Rybakina in a rematch of last week’s Toronto final. Other players advancing include Coco Gauff, who beat Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 6-2, and Amanda Anisimova, who defeated Linda Noskova 6-1, 6-4.
