Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova celebrates after upsetting world number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in a fourth-round match at the WTA Toronto Masters. Photo: AFP
TORONTO:
World number one Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated by Russian 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova on Saturday in a fourth-round match at the WTA Toronto Masters tournament.
Alexandrova defeated the four-time Grand Slam winner from Belarus 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-4 in 2hr 29min to book a berth in the quarter-finals.
Sabalenka, who will seek her third consecutive US Open title next month, fell to 5-5 in her career WTA rivalry with Alexandrova, who will face either American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova or Ukraine’s ninth-seeded Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals.
Sabalenka broke for a 2-0 lead in the opening set, dropped the next four games, then held and broke back to 4-4 on a forehand drop volley winner.
Double faults by Sabalenka in the 11th game and Alexandrova in the 12th surrendered breaks leading to a tie-break.
The Russian took five of the last six points to seal the first set when Sabalenka swatted a crosscourt forehand wide.
In the second set, Alexandrova hit a forehand long to surrender a break and give Sabalenka a 4-3 lead. The top seed then held serve twice to force a decider.
Sabalenka was broken when she netted a forehand to give Alexandrova a 3-1 edge, but the Russian double-faulted away a break in the seventh game.
In the 10th game, Sabalenka made three unforced errors to give Alexandrova break and match points.
Sabalenka saved the first on a service winner and the second on an ace.
But after sending a backhand beyond the baseline, the Belarusian made her sixth and final double fault to lose the match.
“I didn’t have any expectations before the match,” Alexandrova said. “I knew it was going to be super difficult when I walked on the court.
“I was trying to risk as much as possible because it felt like it was the only way to create some chances. It caused many more mistakes but at the same time I created many more opportunities.”
Jodar ousts Lehecka
Spanish teen Rafael Jodar defeated Czech eighth seed Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-3 on Saturday to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP Montreal Masters.
Jodar dominated the night match after an afternoon rain delay in the Masters 1000 hardcourt event.
The 19-year-old Spaniard, runner-up last week in Washington, never let Lehecka into their fourth-round match in collecting his 33rd victory of the season.
World number 15 Jodar has reached the last eight in seven of his past eight events and a Montreal title would send the youngster to a top-10 ranking for the first time.
Jodar will play for a semi-final berth against French 18th seed Arthur Fils, who defeated Britain’s Cameron Norrie 6-2, 7-6 (10/8).
Fils, who lost to Jodar last week in Washington, will play in his fourth Masters quarter-final of the year.
“It was a very nice battle,” Fils said. “The second set was back and forth. He really raised his level. I got a bit tight but I’m happy to get out in two sets. I’m confident with how I’m playing right now.”
Italian Luciano Darderi fuelled himself with an expresso shot during a mid-match changeover in a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Nuno Borges to reach the quarter-finals.
It was not the first time Darderi had downed his national rocket fuel to fire up the afterburners in a tight situation on court.
Darderi will bid for the semis against Brandon Nakashima, whose match with Arthur Rinderknech was interrupted for nearly two hours with the final set level at 4-4.
Players were taken off court due to rain and the threat of lightning, returning to finish after almost two hours.
Nakashima withstood a love game from his French opponent but broke serve a game later before finishing a 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 7-5 victory on his first match point thanks to 22 unforced errors from Rinderknech.
He broke through in a Masters round of 16 afer losing in his first five matches at this level.
“Coming out after the break I knew I had to fire at the beginning,” Nakashima said. “My level is growing with each match and I’m trying to make the most of it.”
ATP number 22 Darderi will be playing in an ATP-leading 10th quarter-final of the season after earning his 30th victory of 2026.
