World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has been eliminated from the Cincinnati Open in the round of 16 by Czech qualifier Sára Bejlek, 7-6(9/7), 6-4. The 20-year-old, ranked 59th in the world, claimed the biggest win of her career and reached her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal.
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A tiebreak collapse
Sabalenka appeared firmly in control of the opening set. After breaking Bejlek's serve, the Belarusian raced to a 5-1 lead in the tiebreak. The match looked all but over. Bejlek then produced a remarkable surge of courage, winning eight of the next nine points to snatch the tiebreak 9-7. The stunning turnaround silenced the Ohio crowd, which had been firmly behind the top seed.
Bejlek takes charge
The second set confirmed the shift in momentum. Fueled by exceptional court coverage that frustrated Sabalenka throughout the contest, Bejlek broke the world No. 1 three times in the second set. The Czech served out the match to love, sealing her victory with an ace after more than two hours of play that stretched past midnight.
"I have no words," Bejlek said after the match, visibly overwhelmed. At 20, she earned her first victory over a top-10 player and booked a quarterfinal clash against American Madison Keys, the 2019 Cincinnati champion.
Sabalenka's US Open preparation takes a hit
For Sabalenka, the early exit raises questions ten days before the US Open. The world No. 1, who held comfortable leads in both sets before faltering, displayed an uncharacteristic mental fragility at the crucial moments. Her ability to handle pressure on the big stage will come under scrutiny at Flushing Meadows, where she will be chasing a third consecutive title. (Sources: WTA, Gulf News, Punto de Break)
