Sabalenka’s shock exit against Beljek, leaves world No. 1 in limbo as Rybakina eyes the top spot in Cincinnati
Sara Bejlek beat Aryna Sabalenka (7-6, 6-4) for her first career top-10 win, reaching her maiden WTA 1000 quarterfinal in Cincinnati and leaving the door open for Elena Rybakina to claim world No. 1.
Aryna Sabalenka, Cincinnati 2026 | © Zuma / PsNewz
Aryna Sabalenka’s grip on world No. 1 was thrown into question by the biggest shock of the Cincinnati Open, as Czech Sara Bejlek stunned the top seed 7-6 (7), 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals on Thursday night. It’s the biggest win of the 20-year-old’s career.year-old’s career.
It was Bejlek’s first win over a top-10 player in three career attempts – and she picked the world No. 1 to do it. It is Bejlek’s first quarterfinal at WTA 1000 level, achieved in her tournament debut in Cincinnati.
Bejlek trailed 1-4 in the second set before reeling off five straight games to close out the win, having already needed a tiebreak to take the opener. For Sabalenka, the loss ends a bid for a sixth Cincinnati quarterfinal that would have tied Simona Halep’s record for the tournament, and by her own recent standards, it was her roughest result of a spring and summer swoon.
The defeat also carries ranking implications: Elena Rybakina could overtake Sabalenka for world No. 1 by reaching the Cincinnati final, a spot Sabalenka has held for 96 consecutive weeks.
Bejlek reached this stage by beating No 23 seed Barbora Krejcikova 7-6 (5), 6-4, former world No. 1 and 2016 Cincinnati champion Karolina Pliskova 6-0, 6-2, and No 16 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 – a run that has made her one of three Czechs, alongside Marie Bouzkova and Linda Noskova, to reach the Cincinnati last 16 this week.
“It’s your first ever win over a top 10, top 5, and guess what – you just beat the world No. 1,” she was told in her on-court interview. “I lost my words,” Bejlek said. “It feels incredible. I’m super happy. Yeah, I don’t have any words.”
Bejlek will next face American Madison Keys, the No 20 seed, who beat Chinese qualifier Xiyu Wang 7-6 (3), 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals.
Cincinnati WTA 1000, Round of 16
- S. Bejlek d. A. Sabalenka (1): 7-6, 6-4
- M. Keys (19) d. X. Wang: 7-6, 6-4
- C. Gauff (4) d. M. Bouzkova (22): 6-3, 6-2
- M. Kostyuk (10) d. M. Andreeva (5): 4-6, 6-0, 6-2
- A. Anisimova (9) d. L. Noskova (6): 6-1, 6-4
- J. Pegula (3) d S. Cirstea (16): 6-2, 4-6, 7-4
- I. Swiatek (7) d. D. Perry: 6-3, 6-4
- E. Rybakina (2) d. D. Shnaider (14): 6-4, 6-4
