{
  "id": 342081,
  "title": "World number one Sabalenka ousted in Toronto by Alexandrova",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/world-number-one-sabalenka-ousted-in-toronto-by-alexandrova-342081",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-09T03:28:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/sport/tennis/world-number-one-sabalenka-ousted-in-toronto-by-alexandrova-1.500635077"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a surprising turn of events at the WTA Toronto Masters tournament, Ekaterina Alexandrova, the currently 16th seeded Russian player, defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round. The match lasted for 2 hours and 29 minutes, with Alexandrova emerging victorious 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-4. Sabalenka, who is preparing for her third consecutive US Open title next month, fell to a 5-5 record in her WTA rivalry with Alexandrova. The Belarusian player broke the first set's initial point but then struggled to maintain her lead, dropping the subsequent four games. Alexandrova, meanwhile, capitalized on Sabalenka's double faults in the 11th and 12th games, leading to a tie-break where she secured five of the last six points. In the second set, Alexandrova took an early lead before Sabalenka held serve twice, forcing a deciding set. Despite breaking early in the final set, Alexandrova's double fault in the seventh game set up Sabalenka's match point victory.",
  "summary": "World number one Aryna Sabalenka ousted in Toronto by Alexandrova",
  "key_points": [
    "Ekaterina Alexandrova defeats world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka",
    "Match lasts 2 hours 29 minutes, ends 7-6, 4-6, 6-4",
    "Alexandrova wins tie-break, capitalizes on Sabalenka's faults"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Sabalenka's loss to Alexandrova, a player she now trails 5-5 in their WTA rivalry, complicates her preparation for a third consecutive US Open title.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}