Sabalenka shocked in Toronto exit

World No. 1 stunned in Toronto

Aryna Sabalenka's Canadian Open campaign came to an abrupt and uncomfortable end on Saturday night, as world No. 16 Ekaterina Alexandrova produced a gutsy display to knock out the top seed in two hours and 29 minutes.

Serve woes prove costly

Sabalenka broke early to seize the initiative, but Alexandrova responded emphatically, reeling off four straight games to lead 4-2. The Belarusian's serve was a persistent liability - just 46.2 per cent accuracy and five double faults told the story of a player at war with her own game.

Frustration and fightback

Unforced errors and squandered chances plagued Sabalenka throughout. A botched overhead smash in the second set drew visible frustration. She did rally, though, breaking late in that set to level the match and force a decider.

Decisive third set collapse

Any momentum proved fleeting. Three more breaks of serve in the final set sealed Sabalenka's fate, and - fittingly - a double fault on match point brought an evening she will want to forget to its conclusion.

What comes next

Alexandrova advances to the quarter-finals, where she awaits the winner of Elina Svitolina versus Amanda Anisimova. For Sabalenka, the focus now shifts to regrouping ahead of next month's US Open title defence.