Alexandrova, after her most unexpected night against Sabalenka: "I had no expectations"

Complicated weeks are running for Aryna Sabalenka, who has struggled to find her form since closing out March on a high note. Last night, at the WTA 1000 in Toronto, the Belarusian once again disappointed in her match against Ekaterina Alexandrova, who brought her best game to deliver the upset.

Alexandrova approached the match with no expectations and a very clear idea: to play aggressively, even if that meant taking risks. “I knew it was going to be a difficult match. I had no expectations beyond that. I went out onto the court and tried to play as aggressively as I could, even if it led to many unforced errors,” she explained after the match.

The Russian particularly emphasized her ability to stay in the match regardless of the score. “I was playing every point, no matter what the result was. I wasn’t trying to think that it was my only chance or what would happen next. No matter what the score was, I tried to do the same,” she stated. A mindset that proved decisive in overcoming high-tension moments.

The victory carries even more weight given the context of a challenging season for Alexandrova. After a very positive 2025, expectations increased, and the Russian acknowledges that she did not always manage that pressure well. “This year has been quite difficult for me; perhaps the expectations after last season didn’t help me. There were also difficulties with my equipment, with my racket, and many things were happening on the court,” she confessed. Therefore, defeating the No. 1 means much more than just a victory in Toronto. “A win like this really helps to regain confidence, to think that you are doing things right and that you are on the right path. You just need to keep doing the same,” she asserted.

This is why Sabalenka lost to Alexandrova in Toronto

Facing an opponent whose serve she considers one of her main weapons, Alexandrova decided to take even more risks on return. Her goal was to take away time from Sabalenka and prevent her from dominating the exchanges from the first shot. “On her serve, I tried to be super aggressive,” she explained. The strategy also led to mistakes, but allowed the Russian to generate constant pressure. Alexandrova did not hide her admiration for the variety of resources Sabalenka possesses. “She has all aspects of the game at a very high level. She has an incredible serve, a great return, can make magnificent forehand and backhand shots, play drop shots, and volleys. Basically, she can do everything,” she acknowledged.

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The Russian also highlighted the No. 1's ability to constantly change the rhythm. “Sometimes it was super fast, other times slower, and sometimes with spin. It’s very difficult to readjust to such a game,” she explained.
And there was still time for a last scare. On her first match point, Sabalenka hit a spectacular second serve ace. “It was an incredible serve for being a second serve,” she recalled with a laugh. However, Alexandrova quickly managed to forget it and then secured her ticket to the quarterfinals.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alexandrova, tras su noche más inesperada ante Sabalenka: “No tenía ninguna expectativa”