Alexandrova stuns world No.1 Sabalenka 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4 in Toronto
Aryna Sabalenka was beaten by 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4 in the fourth round of the Canadian Open in Toronto on August 9, 2026. The world No.1's two-hour, 29-minute defeat leaves her without a singles final since her March Miami Open triumph.
Sabalenka has not reached a final since winning the Miami Open in March, where she defeated Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. That Miami victory completed a Sunshine Double for Sabalenka following her Indian Wells title. The loss in Toronto adds to concerns about her form ahead of the final Grand Slam of the season.
Alexandrova took the opening-set tiebreak, Sabalenka levelled by winning the second set, and Alexandrova closed out the match 6-4 in the decider. The contest lasted two hours, 29 minutes. Sabalenka saved two match points at 4-5 in the final set but then double faulted, which handed Alexandrova the win.
Sabalenka began the Canadian Open with straight-sets victories over Moyuka Uchijima, 6-3, 6-3, and Zhang Shuai, 6-3, 6-4, to reach the round of 16. Alexandrova's triumph ended Sabalenka's run in Toronto and advanced her into the quarterfinals. All smiles Ekaterina Alexandrova is into the quarterfinals!#NBO26 pic.twitter.com/5TUsFu53wa— wta (@WTA) August 9, 2026
Despite the early exit, Sabalenka will remain the WTA world No.1 heading into the US Open even if Elena Rybakina wins the Canadian Open. Rybakina had entered the tournament with a chance to challenge Sabalenka for the top ranking, but Sabalenka's progress to the fourth round was sufficient to secure her No.1 position. Sabalenka had no ranking points to defend from last year's Canadian Open, while Rybakina was defending points from her 2025 semi-final run.
With the US Open approaching, Sabalenka will have limited time to regain the form that made her one of the most dominant hard-court players on the WTA Tour. She is the defending champion, but her recent results have made her path to a third consecutive US Open crown look far less straightforward.