Sabalenka hits rock bottom in Toronto, and her crisis raises concern
The Belarusian fell in the round of 16 of the WTA 1000 Toronto 2026 against Ekaterina Alexandrova and jeopardizes her short-term status as the number 1 in the world.
Aryna Sabalenka is caught in a difficult-to-explain spiral. In a disastrous season for the great dominator of world tennis, losing to Ekaterina Alexandrova in the round of 16 at the WTA 1000 Toronto 2026 is a blow whose consequences could be really harsh. The result was 7-6 (3) 4-6 6-4 in favor of the Russian.
That historic and memorable Sunshine Double signed a few months ago by Aryna Sabalenka with her titles in Indian Wells and Miami has ended up being the absolute downfall for the Belarusian. No one could have imagined that after that display of dominance, the tennis of the number 1 would deflate in the way it has. While her erratic performance on clay and grass can be attributed to how challenging those surfaces have always been for her, what was not anticipated is that we would also see the worst side of Aryna in this WTA 1000 Toronto 2026.
Alexandrova found the key to frustrate Sabalenka
Not even her idyllic summer vacation with her partner seems to have given Sabalenka the mental peace necessary to regain her best version. Desperate to find winning shots, under the pressure of not having won a Grand Slam this year and feeling the breath of increasingly numerous and higher-level rivals on her neck, along with an evident sense of weariness with herself and mental burn due to the demands of tennis. This is how the number 1 has been seen for some time, with those feelings becoming even more palpable in Toronto.
Down goes the World No. 1 👀
Ekaterina Alexandrova defeats Aryna Sabalenka to advance to the quarterfinals at #NBO26 pic.twitter.com/2ynOeG032d— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 9, 2026
Ekaterina Alexandrova took full advantage of the situation, a silent assassin who has been among the best in the world for years without making too much noise, and who earned a deserved reward for her efforts. "I knew I had to be very aggressive, take away her time and return her first serves because I sensed that would put pressure on her and make her rush. I didn't make too many errors and with my serve, I aimed to be more consistent," explained the Russian after her victory.
Sabalenka's crisis could lead to the loss of the number 1 in the WTA ranking
Incredibly, it is true that Sabalenka has not won a title since she did so in Miami back in March. Baptiste (Madrid), Cirstea (Rome), Shnaider (Roland Garros), Pegula (Berlin), Osaka (Wimbledon), and now Alexandrova (Toronto) have all contributed to an evident crisis of confidence, gameplay, and results. Aryna's priority is to become the champion at the US Open 2026, something that right now seems complicated if she cannot redirect her course in Cincinnati.
A clear reflection of her negative trend is the current and potential situation in the WTA ranking. Elena Rybakina could find herself very close to Sabalenka by the end of the Canadian tournament. So much so that if the Kazakh takes the title in Toronto, she will be just 4 points away. Yes, you read that correctly.
The assault on the top of the rankings could soon be realized if Aryna Sabalenka does not find a way to reverse this situation and becomes that lethal player again in her attacks, but also solid and patient when constructing points. Women's tennis may be approaching a turning point.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka toca fondo en Toronto y su crisis preocupa