Top Seeds Sabalenka, Zverev Stunned at Cincinnati Open

Top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Alexander Zverev were eliminated from the Cincinnati Open within hours of each other on a rain-soaked fourth day. American Tommy Paul saved a match point en route to a shock 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 victory over Germany's Zverev on Wednesday.

The biggest upset came in the women's draw as Czech world number 35 Sara Bejlek stunned top-ranked Sabalenka 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 in a thrilling match that ended shortly after midnight into Thursday morning. Defending champion Sabalenka led by a break in the first set and was up 5-1 in the tie-break before Bejlek fought back to take the set in 65 minutes.

Bejlek broke three times in the second set, coming back from 4-1 down and closing out the match with a hold to love, sealed by an ace. "I can't put it into words, it feels incredible," Bejlek said after her first win over a top-10 player. "I played by feel rather than overthinking. I tried not to worry, just play the ball. I believed in myself no matter what." Bejlek, who won Abu Dhabi in February as a qualifier, will face Madison Keys in the quarter-finals.

This is the latest setback for Sabalenka as the US Open 2026 begins on August 30. The four-time Grand Slam champion exited in the fourth round at Toronto Masters last week, following same-round losses at Wimbledon and the Roland Garros quarter-finals.

Zverev's match was interrupted for 90 minutes by rain during the seventh game of the second set, with two additional five-minute delays to dry the court. The Roland Garros champion had a chance to close it out leading 6-5 in the second-set tie-break but sent a volley into the net. The German regained the advantage in the decider, breaking for a 4-2 lead, but Paul broke straight back and added another for a 5-4 lead before claiming his third win in their last four meetings. "I'm not sure how I did that," Paul said. "I got more returns in, he left a few second serves out there, and he made a couple of double faults. That always helps a lot. I hit the ball harder and enjoyed the match."

Canada's second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime also went out, losing 6-3, 6-4 to American Frances Tiafoe. Paul next faces Flavio Cobolli, the Roland Garros runner-up, who took 2.5 hours to come from behind and beat Rafael Jodar 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3. American sixth seed Taylor Fritz defeated Australia's Chris O'Connell 6-4, 6-3. Thiago Tirante, who knocked out Novak Djokovic in the second round, continued his surprise run to reach his first Masters quarter-final with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 win over Jakub Mensik. Australia's Alex de Minaur had no answer for Arthur Fils, losing 3-6, 4-6 to the Frenchman.

Gauff advances

2023 women's champion Coco Gauff saved all eight break points against Marie Bouzkova in a 6-3, 6-2 win over the Czech. The fourth seed double-faulted on her first match point but bounced back with a leaping overhead winner on her second chance. "I played well throughout, was aggressive, came forward and didn't let her dictate," Gauff said. "I'm happy with the way I played."

Reigning women's champion Iga Swiatek needed four match points to get past France's Diane Parry 6-3, 6-3. The Polish seventh seed will now face last week's Toronto champion Elena Rybakina, who beat Diana Shnaider 6-4, 6-4. Swiatek claimed her first title of 2026 by defeating Rybakina in the Toronto final.

Two other current Grand Slam champions also exited. Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk came from behind to beat Roland Garros winner Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-0, 6-2. Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova lost 1-6, 4-6 to Amanda Anisimova in a match that was also interrupted by weather.