Ekaterina Alexandrova pulled off a major upset at the Canadian Open, defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a captivating match that spanned nearly two and a half hours. The hard-fought contest, which unfolded in Toronto, concluded with Alexandrova securing a 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4 victory over the top seed.
Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion and the reigning US Open champion, initially broke Alexandrova early in the first set. However, the Russian player mounted a comeback, ultimately winning the set in a tiebreak.
Demonstrating her characteristic resilience, Sabalenka responded by taking the second set. She secured a crucial break at 4-3 and then successfully served out the set, leveling the match at one set apiece.
The decisive third set saw Alexandrova maintain her aggressive playstyle, while Sabalenka’s unforced errors began to mount. Serving to stay in the match at 4-5, Sabalenka managed to save two match points. However, a double fault on the third match point handed Alexandrova the victory.
Following her impressive win, Alexandrova shared her strategy during an on-court interview. “I just tried to play every single point as if it was the last one because with her, you don’t get a lot of chances during the match,” she explained, highlighting the need to remain focused on her game rather than the score. She added, “I’m super happy that I could win because after the second set, I thought (the chance) was already past me.”
Alexandrova now advances to the quarterfinals, where she is set to face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina. Svitolina earned her spot by defeating American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova with a score of 6-2, 6-4. This upcoming quarterfinal match holds significant importance for both players as they aim to build momentum leading into the highly anticipated US Open.
