alexandrova shocks world
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Alexandrova shocks world No. 1 Sabalenka in Toronto

ByJustpaste.in

TORONTO: Russian tennis player Ekaterina Alexandrova produced a major upset at the WTA Toronto Masters by defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round.

The 16th-seeded Alexandrova secured a hard-fought 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-4 victory over the four-time Grand Slam champion in a match lasting two hours and 29 minutes.

The win booked Alexandrova’s place in the quarter-finals and improved her career record against Sabalenka to 5-5.

Sabalenka made a strong start, breaking Alexandrova early in the opening set to take a 2-0 lead. However, the Russian responded by winning four consecutive games.

The set remained closely contested, with both players exchanging breaks late in the set. Alexandrova eventually dominated the tie-break and took the opening set 7-6.

Sabalenka fought back in the second set. She secured a crucial break to move 4-3 ahead before holding her next two service games to level the match.

The deciding set again featured intense rallies and momentum shifts. Alexandrova broke Sabalenka early to establish a 3-1 advantage.

Sabalenka managed to recover one break, but Alexandrova remained composed under pressure. The Russian created two match points in the 10th game after a series of errors from the top seed.

Sabalenka saved the first two opportunities with a service winner and an ace. However, she then sent a backhand beyond the baseline before committing her sixth double fault of the match, handing Alexandrova victory.

Alexandrova said she entered the contest without any particular expectations because she knew defeating Sabalenka would be extremely difficult.

She explained that she deliberately played aggressively and took risks because she believed it was the best way to create opportunities against the powerful Belarusian.

The victory sends Alexandrova into the Toronto quarter-finals, where she will face either American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova or Ukraine’s ninth seed Elina Svitolina.

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