In a stunning upset at the Toronto Masters, world number one Aryna Sabalenka and American Jessica Pegula both faced early exits in the fourth round on Saturday. The tournament, held at Sobeys Stadium, saw Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, fall to 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia in a gripping three-set match.
Sabalenka's defeat came with a final score of 7-6(7/3), 4-6, 6-4, marking a significant setback as she prepares for her quest to secure a third consecutive US Open title. The match lasted 2 hours and 29 minutes, showcasing a fierce battle between the two competitors.
After her victory, Alexandrova remarked on her approach to the match, stating, "I wasn’t trying to think about the score or anything like beating number one. I was just trying to do my best." Her strategy involved treating each point as crucial, especially against a player of Sabalenka's caliber, where opportunities can be scarce. Alexandrova expressed her happiness with the win, particularly after feeling that victory was slipping away after the second set.
With this victory, Alexandrova advances to the quarter-finals, where she will face Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, who secured her spot by defeating American Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 6-4 in just 78 minutes.
In another surprising result, Jessica Pegula, the world number three, was eliminated by 15th seed Diana Shnaider, who won decisively with a score of 6-3, 6-3. The match concluded in a swift 73 minutes, with Shnaider demonstrating her ability to dominate the court. The 22-year-old left-hander noted her comfort in both defensive play and striking winners throughout the match, which contributed to her success against Pegula.
Sabalenka's match began with a tense first set that ended in a tiebreak, where Alexandrova managed to win five of the last six points. Despite leveling the match in the second set, Sabalenka faced multiple match points in the deciding set, ultimately succumbing to a double fault that sealed her fate. Alexandrova's aggressive play style proved effective, as she aimed to capitalize on every opportunity, despite acknowledging that it led to some mistakes.
Meanwhile, former world number one Iga Swiatek, the seventh seed, continued her campaign with a comeback victory over Ukraine's 10th-seeded Marta Kostyuk, winning 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. Swiatek's performance showed resilience as she saved nine break points in the final two sets without losing her serve, demonstrating her championship pedigree.
As the tournament progresses, the unexpected exits of top seeds like Sabalenka and Pegula have opened the door for other competitors, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the Toronto Masters.
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