Cincinnati masters: Sabalenka and Zverev suffer shock exits

Top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Alexander Zverev were both knocked out of the Cincinnati Masters within hours of each other on a rain-hit Wednesday of fourth-round action.

American Tommy Paul produced a major upset, saving a match point before defeating Germany’s Zverev 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4.

The biggest surprise, however, came in the women’s draw. Czech player Sara Bejlek, ranked 35th in the world, stunned world No. 1 Sabalenka 7-6(7), 6-4 in a gritty contest that finished shortly after midnight.

Sabalenka appeared to be in control early, leading by a break in the opening set and taking a 5-1 advantage in the tiebreak. But Bejlek fought back brilliantly, winning the set after 65 minutes.

The Czech continued her comeback in the second set, breaking Sabalenka three times and recovering from 4-1 down. She sealed the biggest win of her career with a love game, finishing with an ace.

“I lost my words – it feels incredible,” Bejlek said after recording her first win over a top-10 player. “I was playing what I was feeling and not really thinking. I was trying not to be nervous and just play. I believed in myself no matter what.”

Bejlek, who won the Abu Dhabi hard-court title in February as a qualifier, will now face American Madison Keys in the quarter-finals.

The defeat represents another disappointing result for Sabalenka with the US Open beginning on August 30. The four-time Grand Slam champion was also eliminated in the fourth round in Toronto last week, after suffering the same fate at Wimbledon and reaching the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.

Paul Completes Zverev Comeback

Zverev’s match was repeatedly disrupted by rain, with a 90-minute stoppage during the seventh game of the second set and two further five-minute interruptions while the court was dried.

The French Open champion had an opportunity to finish the match when he led 6-5 in the second-set tiebreak, but he sent a volley into the net.

Zverev then took another step toward victory in the deciding set, breaking for a 4-2 lead. Paul immediately responded, breaking back before securing another break for a 5-4 advantage and serving out the match.

It was Paul’s third victory over Zverev in their last four meetings.

“I’m not sure how I did it,” Paul said. “I put some returns in, he gave me some looks at second serves and he threw in a few doubles. That always helps a ton.”

He added: “I went after the ball a bit more. I was having fun out there.”

Second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime was another high-profile casualty, losing 6-3, 6-4 to American Frances Tiafoe.

Paul will next face Flavio Cobolli, the Roland Garros runner-up, who battled for two and a half hours to defeat Spain’s Rafael Jodar 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-3.

American sixth seed Taylor Fritz advanced with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Australia’s Chris O’Connell.

Meanwhile, Thiago Tirante continued his surprise run after upsetting Novak Djokovic in the second round. The Argentine reached his first Masters quarter-final by defeating Jakub Mensik 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.

Frenchman Arthur Fils also advanced, comfortably beating fifth seed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4.

Gauff Advances, Swiatek Sets Up Toronto Rematch

Women’s 2023 champion Coco Gauff booked her place in the quarter-finals with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory over Czech player Marie Bouzkova.

The fourth seed double-faulted on her first match point but recovered immediately, leaping to smash an overhead winner on her second opportunity.

“I played well the whole match, going for my shots, coming forward and not letting her counter-punch,” Gauff said. “I’m happy with how I played.”

Defending champion Iga Swiatek also progressed, needing four match points to defeat France’s Diane Parry 6-3, 6-3.

The seventh-seeded Pole will now face Elena Rybakina in a repeat of last week’s Toronto final. Rybakina defeated Diana Shnaider 6-4, 6-4 to set up the rematch.

Swiatek captured her first title of 2026 in Toronto, defeating reigning Australian Open champion Rybakina in the final.

Two other current Grand Slam champions were eliminated.

Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk fought back from a set down to defeat French Open champion Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-0, 6-2.

Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova was also knocked out, losing 6-1, 6-4 to Amanda Anisimova in another match affected by the weather.