Alexandrova, Thorn in Sabalenka’s Side, Drops the World No.1 in Toronto

Ekaterina Alexandrova has been a thorn in Aryna Sabalenka’s side ever since they first met in 2017. In 2026, she’s still causing problems for the world No.1. 

The Russian produced a barrage of winners and squeezed through a hard-fought battle, 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4, to improve to 5-5 lifetime against Sabalenka on Saturday night at the National Bank Open in Toronto.

The victory marks Alexandrova’s third career win over a reigning world No.1. She is the second woman to defeat a world No.1 at the Canadian Open this century, along with Venus Williams, who defeated her sister Serena in 2014. 

Alexandrova had two break points to take a 4-2 lead in the second set, but when she couldn’t convert, Sabalenka reeled off four of the final five games to level the match at a set apiece. 

“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 matches,” Alexandrova said. “I had a lot today, but I couldn’t realize all of them, but honestly, I was trying not to think about about the score.

“I’m super happy that I could win because after the second set, I thought she already passed me.”

The pair traded breaks in the third and it was Alexandrova who scored the final break with Sabalenka serving to stay alive. 

She had her first match point with Sabalenka serving at 4-5, 30-40, but it was saved by a magnificent second serve that hopped off the court and eluded Alexandrova’s backhand for an ace. 

A second match point soon came, as Sabalenka pushed a forehand down the line long. 

Another ace was Sabalenka’s reply, in the same spot, this time a first serve. 

But a third match point, earned when Sabalenka yanked a crosscourt backhand wide of the tramline, proved to be the trick. 

The hard-fought battle ended when Sabalenka double-faulted at the two hour and 30-minute mark. 

Sabalenks drops to 38-7 on the season, while Alexandrova improves to 14-18.