World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka Upset by Ekaterina Alexandrova at Canadian Open

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka suffered a shock fourth-round defeat at the Canadian Open after Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova fought back to win a three-set thriller in Toronto.

Alexandrova, the tournament’s 16th seed, defeated the reigning US Open champion 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4 in a match that lasted nearly two and a half hours. The victory sends Alexandrova into the quarterfinals while ending Sabalenka’s run at the National Bank Open.

Sabalenka recovered after losing the opening set and appeared to have regained momentum by taking the second. However, Alexandrova maintained her aggressive approach in the deciding set and held her nerve during a tense finish. Sabalenka saved two match points at 4-5 but then double-faulted on Alexandrova’s third opportunity, ending the match.

The result marks Alexandrova’s third career victory over a world No. 1 player. It is also her sixth appearance in a WTA 1000 quarterfinal and her first since reaching the last eight in Doha in 2025.

Sabalenka entered the Canadian Open as one of the leading contenders ahead of the US Open, where she will look to defend her title later this month. Her early exit in Toronto represents a setback in her preparations for the final Grand Slam tournament of the season.

Alexandrova will now face Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals. Svitolina advanced after defeating eighth seed Amanda Anisimova in straight sets, adding another major name to a tournament that has already seen several top seeds eliminated.

With several highly ranked players already out of the competition, the Canadian Open has opened up considerably as the remaining contenders battle for a place in the semifinals.