Sabalenka’s Canadian Open campaign ends
World number one Aryna Sabalenka experienced a surprising defeat at the Canadian Open, weeks before her US Open title defence is set to begin. She 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 a decider. However, a double fault while serving to stay in the match ultimately gave the number 16 seed the win. This marks Alexandrova’s third victory over a world number one, including previous wins against Iga Swiatek and Sabalenka herself.
Alexandrova commented on her approach, stating she tried to play each point as if it were the last, acknowledging that opportunities against Sabalenka are limited. She expressed happiness with the win, especially after feeling the chance might have passed after the second set. Alexandrova will now face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals.
In another match, third seed Jessica Pegula suffered her first career loss to Diana Shnaider. The 22-year-old Russian won both sets strongly with a 6-3 6-3 scoreline. Shnaider is scheduled to play 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 concludes in Montreal
In the men’s event held in Montreal, Britain’s number two, Cameron Norrie, was eliminated after being defeated by 18th seed Arthur Fils. Norrie missed two set-point opportunities during the match, which ended 6-2 7-6 (10-8) in favour of Fils.
Norrie managed to save three match points in the second set, pushing the match to a tie-break. However, the Frenchman broke his serve to secure the win in one hour and 43 minutes. Fils is set to play Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar in the quarter-finals. Jodar, a 19-year-old, had previously upset eighth seed Jiri Lehecka with a 6-3 6-3 victory.
Other players who advanced to the next round include Brandon Nakashima and Luciano Darderi. Both players secured their spots with challenging three-set victories over Arthur Rinderknech and Nuno Borges, respectively. Darderi, from Italy, was noted for taking an espresso during a mid-match changeover on his way to a 4-6 6-3 7-5 win.
Alexandrova’s win over Sabalenka marks her sixth WTA 1000 quarterfinal appearance. Her strategy involved aggressive returns on both first and second serves, aiming to create pressure. She generated 15 break-point chances throughout the match against Sabalenka.
Alexandrova will face Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals, a player against whom she has a less favourable historical record, with Svitolina leading their head-to-head encounters 3-1. Their last meeting was in 2021, which Alexandrova won in straight sets.
This victory is significant for Alexandrova, who entered the tournament with an 11-18 season record and had dropped to number 19 in the PIF WTA Rankings. She expressed that a win of this nature helps to build confidence and reinforces that her current approach is effective.
Svitolina, who defeated eighth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals, acknowledged Anisimova’s sharp play and expressed satisfaction with her ability to handle the game at 5-4 and serve out the match.
Source: bbc.com
