Sabalenka and Zverev Stunned in Cincinnati Masters Fourth Round

Aryna Sabalenka and Alexander Zverev were knocked out in a dramatic Cincinnati Masters fourth round on a rain-hit Wednesday, with Sara Bejlek and Tommy Paul producing the standout upsets. Bejlek beat the world number one 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 shortly after midnight on Thursday, while Paul saved a match point to overcome Zverev 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4.

The results removed the top seeds from their respective draws and set up new quarter-final matchups. Bejlek will face Madison Keys, while Paul moves on to meet Flavio Cobolli after surviving a match that was repeatedly interrupted by rain.

Bejlek overturns Sabalenka lead in midnight finish

Bejlek, ranked 35th, delivered her first victory over a top-10 player in a tightly contested match against Sabalenka. The former champion had led by a break in the opening set and then moved 5-1 ahead in the tiebreak, but Bejlek recovered to take the set 9-7 after 65 minutes.

The Czech player then rallied again in the second set. Sabalenka held a 4-1 advantage before Bejlek fought back, breaking the Belarusian three times on the way to a 6-4 finish. She closed out the match with a love game capped by an ace.

“I lost my words — it feels incredible,” Bejlek said after the win. “I was playing what I was feeling and not really thinking. I was trying not to be nervous and just play. I believed in myself no matter what.”

Bejlek had already won the Abu Dhabi hard-court title in February as a qualifier. Her Cincinnati run now takes her into a quarter-final against American Madison Keys.

For Sabalenka, the defeat came with the US Open set to begin on August 30. The four-time Grand Slam champion had also exited in the fourth round of the Toronto Masters the previous week, following a Wimbledon fourth-round loss and a Roland Garros quarter-final defeat.

Paul survives rain delays to beat Zverev

Paul’s three-set win over Zverev unfolded amid several weather stoppages. Rain halted play for 90 minutes in the seventh game of the second set, and two further five-minute pauses were required while drops were dried from the court.

Zverev had an opportunity to finish the contest at 6-5 in the second-set tiebreak, but put a volley into the net. The German later broke for a 4-2 lead in the deciding set, only for Paul to immediately break back before earning another break for 5-4 and serving out the upset.

“I’m not sure how I did it,” Paul said. “I put some returns in, he gave me some looks at second serves and he threw in a few doubles (faults). That always helps a ton. I went after the ball a bit more, I was having fun out there.”

The result marked Paul’s third victory over Zverev in their last four meetings. Zverev, identified in the tournament report as the French Open champion, had been among the leading names in the men’s draw.

Paul’s next opponent is Cobolli, who came through a two-and-a-half-hour contest against Rafael Jodar, winning 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3. Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Frances Tiafoe defeated second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-4, Taylor Fritz beat Chris O’Connell 6-4, 6-3, Thiago Tirante overcame Jakub Mensik 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, and Arthur Fils defeated fifth seed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4.

Gauff and Swiatek progress in women’s draw

Coco Gauff advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Marie Bouzkova, saving all eight break points she faced. The 2023 champion double-faulted on her first match point before converting the second with an overhead winner.

Defending champion Iga Swiatek beat Diane Parry 6-3, 6-3 after needing four match points. She will next meet Elena Rybakina, who defeated Diana Shnaider 6-4, 6-4. Marta Kostyuk beat Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-0, 6-2, while Amanda Anisimova defeated Linda Noskova 6-1, 6-4.