World number one Sabalenka suffers Toronto setback as Alexandrova advances

World number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered a setback in her U.S. Open build-up after she was beaten 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4 ​by Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round of ‌the Canadian Open in Toronto on Saturday.

The 16th-seeded Alexandrova fought a hard battle lasting nearly two and a half hours to secure her quarter-final berth.

Sabalenka, ​a four-time Grand Slam champion and reigning U.S. Open ​winner, recovered from a set down to force a ⁠decider but was unable to halt Alexandrova’s aggressive shot-making in the ​final set.

The Belarusian broke early in the opening set before Alexandrova ​rallied to force a tiebreak, which the Russian won to move ahead.

Sabalenka responded by seizing control of the second set with a break for a ​4-3 lead before serving out to level the match.

Alexandrova held ​her nerve in the decider as Sabalenka’s error count rose. Serving to stay ‌in ⁠the match at 4-5, the top seed saved two match points, but a double fault on the third handed victory to the Russian.

“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,” Alexandrova said in her on-court interview.

Rested Sabalenka has high hopes leading into US Open

“Honestly, ​I was trying not to think about the ​score ⁠or anything. Just hit the ball, and that’s it.

“I’m super happy that I could win because after the second set, I thought (the chance) ⁠was ​already past me.”

Alexandrova will face Ukraine’s Elina ​Svitolina, who defeated American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-2 6-4, for a place in ​the semi-finals.