- World No. 1 Falls to 20-Year-Old Czech 7-6, 6-4 as US Open Preparations Suffer Another Blow
CINCINNATI: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka suffered another disappointing setback ahead of the US Open, falling to Czech rising star Sara Bejlek in the fourth round of the Cincinnati Masters.
The 35th-ranked Bejlek produced the biggest victory of her career, defeating the top seed 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 in a dramatic contest that concluded shortly after midnight on Thursday.
Bejlek Stages Stunning Comeback
Sabalenka appeared to be in control early in the opening set, taking a break lead before building a commanding 5-1 advantage in the tiebreak.
But Bejlek refused to surrender. The 20-year-old mounted a remarkable comeback, saving the set and eventually taking the tiebreak 9-7 to seize the momentum.
Her speed, movement and relentless court coverage repeatedly frustrated Sabalenka, who struggled to find a consistent response to the Czech’s aggressive defence and counter-punching.
Czech Star Seals First Top-10 Victory
Bejlek continued her impressive performance in the second set, breaking Sabalenka’s serve three times before closing out the match with a love service game, finishing with an ace.
“I lost my words — it feels incredible,” Bejlek said after securing the biggest victory of her young career.
The win marked Bejlek’s first triumph over a Top-10 opponent and underlined her rapid rise on the women’s tour.
Bejlek Advances to Quarter-Finals
The Czech player, who captured the Abu Dhabi hard-court title in February after entering the tournament as a qualifier, will face American Madison Keys in the quarter-finals.
Her victory over Sabalenka adds another major milestone to an increasingly impressive season.
Another Setback for Sabalenka Ahead of US Open
For Sabalenka, the defeat represents another setback as she prepares for the US Open, which begins on August 30.
The four-time Grand Slam champion was eliminated in the fourth round of the Toronto Masters last week and suffered similar disappointments at Wimbledon, where she exited in the fourth round, and at the French Open, where she reached the quarter-finals.
With the final Grand Slam of the season approaching, Sabalenka will now look to regroup quickly and rediscover her best form before arriving in New York.
BY: The Times Union
