Aryna Sabalenka kept her post-match message brief but reflective after a surprising fourth-round exit at the 2026 Canadian Open in Toronto. The world No. 1 was beaten 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4 by Ekaterina Alexandrova, the 19th-ranked Russian veteran who delivered one of the bigger upsets of the summer hard-court swing.
Taking to Instagram after the defeat, Sabalenka summed up her feelings in just 14 words: leaving Toronto with love and lessons to learn, before adding a simple "onto the next." It was a gracious but pointed acknowledgment that something needs fixing.
The loss continues a difficult stretch for the 28-year-old Belarusian. She has now failed to reach a final at six consecutive tournaments, with only one semi-final appearance during that run, at the Berlin Open. The slide began in April when Hailey Baptiste knocked her out in the Madrid Open quarter-finals, ending a remarkable 15-match winning streak. Before that loss, Sabalenka had won 26 of her first 27 matches in 2026, claiming the Brisbane International title, reaching the Australian Open final, and then sweeping the Indian Wells and Miami Open titles to complete the coveted Sunshine Double.
Alexandrova spoke with obvious respect after the victory, praising Sabalenka's all-around ability and noting how difficult it was to find any rhythm against her. The Russian pointed out that Sabalenka constantly changes pace, mixing heavy spin with flatter strikes and adding drop shots and volleys, making it almost impossible for opponents to settle into a groove.
With the Cincinnati Open and the US Open on the horizon, TennisDraw users will be closely watching whether Sabalenka can rediscover the dominant form that made her nearly unstoppable earlier this season.
