Alexandrova Stuns Sabalenka Again to Reach Toronto Quarterfinals

Ekaterina Alexandrova defeated Aryna Sabalenka 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-4 in a 2-hour and 29-minute match on Saturday night in Toronto, marking her fifth win against Sabalenka across 10 meetings on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz. The No. 16 seed secured the upset to advance to the quarterfinals, overcoming a love-break at the start of the deciding set.

How Alexandrova Dismantled Sabalenka’s Serve

Alexandrova disrupted Sabalenka’s service games by attacking both first and second deliveries aggressively. The strategy yielded a high volume of return winners off both wings, creating constant pressure that forced Sabalenka into 15 break-point opportunities throughout the encounter.

“If I would be able to create some pressure on the return, especially on the first (serve), it will create some kind of tension on the court,” Alexandrova said in her post-match press conference. While the high-risk approach produced errors, it allowed Alexandrova to be super aggressive on her opponent’s serve while trying to get the ball in and start the point on her own service games.

Overcoming Late-Set Drama and Match Point Scares

After dropping the second set, Alexandrova fell behind immediately in the decider before rallying to break serve 3 of 7 break points in the final set. Sabalenka gave her a brief scare by firing a pair of aces on her first two match points, including a masterful second serve with a super kick and super spin that caught Alexandrova off guard.

“I expected it to be a good serve, so I didn’t wait for some easy serve to just hit the ball. I expected that, but I didn’t expect it to be that good,” Alexandrova said, describing the second serve. She recovered on the third match point to seal the victory and advance to the quarterfinals.

Upcoming Quarterfinal Match Against Elina Svitolina

Alexandrova will face No. 9 seed Elina Svitolina, who withstood a late second-set rally to defeat No. 8 seed Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 6-4 later Saturday night to reach the quarterfinals. Svitolina leads the head-to-head 3-1, though Alexandrova won their last meeting in straight sets in Berlin in 2021.

“She is a hell of a player, so I was expecting her to come back a little bit more,” Svitolina said of her match against Anisimova. For Alexandrova, the tournament represents a chance to rebuild momentum after entering Toronto with an 11-18 record on the season and had fallen to No. 19 in the PIF WTA Rankings after finishing last year at a career-best No. 10.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who did Ekaterina Alexandrova beat in Toronto?

Alexandrova defeated Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set match spanning 2 hours and 29 minutes.

What is Alexandrova’s head-to-head record against Sabalenka?

This was the fifth time in 10 WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz meetings that Alexandrova defeated Sabalenka.

Who will Alexandrova play in the Toronto quarterfinals?

Alexandrova will face No. 9 seed Elina Svitolina.

What was the score of the match?

The final score was 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-4 in favor of Alexandrova.