The Cincinnati Open witnessed a dramatic fourth round of competition as two of the tournament’s top seeds fell within hours of each other. World number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered a stunning defeat at the hands of Czech player Sara Bejlek, who secured a 7-6, 6-4 victory in a match that extended well past midnight. Bejlek, ranked 35th globally, mounted an impressive comeback after trailing in the opening set tiebreaker, ultimately breaking Sabalenka three times during the second set to claim her first victory over a top-10 opponent.
On the men’s side, American Tommy Paul delivered another upset by eliminating French Open champion Alexander Zverev in a grueling contest that featured multiple rain delays. Paul saved a crucial match point during the encounter and ultimately prevailed 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, extending his recent dominance over Zverev to three wins in their last four meetings. The victory marked Paul’s continued strong form at the tournament.
Sabalenka’s exit represents another concerning development in her preparations for the upcoming US Open, which begins later in the month. The Belarusian has now suffered early-round exits at multiple recent tournaments, including losses at Wimbledon and the French Open. Meanwhile, second-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime also fell during the round, losing to American Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-4, signaling an unpredictable stretch of play at the prestigious hard court event.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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