Sabalenka’s US Open Build-Up Stalls as Alexandrova Claims Canadian Open Victory
The Belarusian star was defeated by Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in a three-set marathon, handing the 16th seed a place in the semifinals.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered a significant setback in her preparations for the US Open after being defeated by Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round of the Canadian Open. The match, held in Toronto on Saturday, concluded with a 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4 victory for the 16th-seeded Alexandrova, ending Sabalenka’s campaign at the tournament.
The contest lasted nearly two and a half hours, with the Belarusian top seed initially taking control in the opening set. Sabalenka broke early to establish an advantage, but Alexandrova rallied to force a tiebreak, which the Russian player won to take the first set. Sabalenka responded in the second set, seizing control with a break to lead 4-3 before serving out to level the match at one set apiece.
In the deciding set, Alexandrova’s aggressive shot-making proved decisive as Sabalenka’s error count rose. The tension peaked when Alexandrova served to stay in the match at 4-5. She successfully saved two match points, but a double fault on the third point ultimately handed the victory to the Russian player.
Following the match, Alexandrova reflected on the intensity of the encounter. “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,” Alexandrova said in her on-court interview. She added that she focused on hitting the ball rather than the score, admitting she believed her chance had passed her after the second set.
Alexandrova will now advance to the semifinals to face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina. Svitolina secured her spot in the next round by defeating American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 6-4, setting up a high-profile quarterfinal clash for the remaining two players.
