Sabalenka stunned by Bejlek as slump continues

Aryna Sabalenka’s bid to defend her US Open title suffered a setback when she lost to Sara Bejlek in the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open. Sabalenka, who held a 5‑1 lead in the first‑set tiebreak and was up 4‑1 in the second set, ultimately fell 7‑6 (9‑7), 6‑4. The defeat leaves Sabalenka’s world No. 1 ranking exposed; Elena Rybakina could overtake her if she reaches the Cincinnati final. Sabalenka is aiming to become the first woman to win three consecutive US Open titles since Serena Williams in 2014. Her preparation for the New York major, which begins on Sunday 30 August, has been far from ideal, with early exits in both Cincinnati and Toronto. Since capturing the Sunshine Double at Indian Wells and Miami in March, Sabalenka has reached only one semifinal, losing to Jessica Pegula in Berlin. For Bejlek, ranked 35th worldwide, the victory marks her first win over a top‑10 opponent and her first appearance in a WTA 1000 quarter‑final. After the match, the 20‑year‑old said, “I wholly mislaid my words. I conscionable support believing and that was the cardinal today,” adding that she had won the Abu Dhabi hard tribunal rubric in February as a qualifier. She also remarked, “She played astonishing tennis and I was conscionable believing, support warring and I was conscionable trying my champion and that's it.” Bejlek will now face former Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the round of 16. In men’s action on Wednesday, Tommy Paul saved a match point en route to defeating Alexander Zverev. Zverev took the opening set and led 3‑4 in the second before rain halted play for 90 minutes. Unable to convert a match point at 6‑5 in the second‑set tiebreak, Zverev was forced into a decider by Paul. After leading 4‑2 in the third set, Paul—then ranked world No. 24—won four straight games to prevail 4‑6, 7‑6 (8‑6), 6‑4 and set up a quarter‑final clash with Italy’s Flavio Cobolli.