Sabalenka stunned by Bejlek as slump continues
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka suffered a shock defeat by Sara Bejlek in the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open, extending a difficult run of form ahead of her US Open title defence. The Belarusian squandered leads in both sets, and the loss puts her world number one ranking at risk, with Elena Rybakina able to overtake her if she reaches the Cincinnati final.
Sabalenka led 5-1 in the first-set tiebreak and 4-1 in the second before Bejlek fought back to win 7-6 (9-7) 6-4, giving the 20-year-old Czech her first career win over a top-10 opponent and her first WTA 1000 quarter-final. Sabalenka, bidding to become the first woman since Serena Williams to win three consecutive US Opens, has now suffered early exits in both Cincinnati and Toronto and has reached only one semi-final since her Sunshine Double triumph in March. Bejlek will next face Madison Keys, while in the men's draw Tommy Paul saved a match point to beat top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 and set up a quarter-final against Flavio Cobolli.
- Sabalenka loses to Sara Bejlek in Cincinnati fourth round, 7-6 6-4
- Her world number one ranking is now under threat from Rybakina
- Tommy Paul upsets Zverev to reach the quarter-finals
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Sabalenka has been the dominant force in women's tennis over the past two seasons, holding the world number one ranking and defending the US Open title she now hopes to win for a third year running. The Cincinnati Open is a major tune-up tournament ahead of the US Open, and a strong run there is usually seen as a sign of good form heading into the year's final Grand Slam.
Sara Bejlek is a 20-year-old Czech player who has been rising through the rankings but had not previously beaten anyone in the world's top ten. The world number one ranking itself is also in play, since Sabalenka's closest rival, Elena Rybakina, could move above her depending on how each player performs in the coming rounds.