Aryna Sabalenka and Cameron Norrie Knocked Out in Canadian Open Last 16
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has suffered a surprise exit from the Canadian Open after losing to Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova, just weeks before beginning her US Open title defence. British star Cameron Norrie also crashed out in the last 16.
Sabalenka was beaten 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-4 by the 16th seed in Toronto after a contest that lasted close to two and a half hours.
The Belarusian battled back after dropping the opening set and forced the match into a decider. However, her hopes of completing the comeback disappeared when she double-faulted while serving to remain in the contest, allowing Alexandrova to secure a major victory.
The defeat adds to a difficult summer for Sabalenka. The 27-year-old has struggled to make deep runs at recent Grand Slam events, exiting in the French Open quarter-finals before suffering a last-16 defeat at Wimbledon.
Alexandrova admitted she was delighted to take advantage of her opportunity after initially fearing the match had slipped away from her.
“I just tried to play every single point as if it was the last one because with her, you don’t get many chances,” the Russian said.
Alexandrova will now meet Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals. Svitolina booked her place in the next round with a convincing 6-2, 6-4 victory over eighth seed Amanda Anisimova.
Elsewhere, third seed Jessica Pegula suffered her first-ever defeat against Diana Shnaider. The 22-year-old Russian produced a strong finish in both sets to claim a 6-3, 6-3 victory.
Shnaider will face Iga Swiatek next after the seventh seed recovered from a difficult opening set to defeat 10th seed Marta Kostyuk 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Swiatek struggled badly with her serve early on, allowing Kostyuk to break her four times during a chaotic 39-minute first set. However, the six-time Grand Slam champion returned from a brief trip to the locker room and produced a much stronger performance in the final two sets.
In Montreal, Norrie’s Canadian Open campaign also came to an end after he was beaten by 18th seed Arthur Fils.
The Frenchman prevailed 6-2, 7-6 (10-8) after one hour and 43 minutes. Norrie had opportunities to level the match and saved three match points in the second set before forcing a tie-break, but Fils eventually found a way through.
Fils will face Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar in the quarter-finals. The 19-year-old produced another impressive upset by defeating eighth seed Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-3.
Brandon Nakashima and Luciano Darderi also advanced after surviving tough three-set battles against Arthur Rinderknech and Nuno Borges respectively.
Darderi even found time for an unusual mid-match espresso break before completing a comeback victory over Borges, winning 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
