Sabalenka stunned by Bejlek as US Open preparations suffer another blow

Aryna Sabalenka’s preparations for her US Open title defence suffered another setback after she was beaten by Sara Bejlek in the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open.

The Belarusian top seed squandered a 5-1 lead in the first-set tiebreak and was also 4-1 ahead in the second set before Czech Republic’s Bejlek fought back to secure a 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 victory.

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The defeat puts Sabalenka’s position as world number one under threat, with Elena Rybakina able to overtake her if she reaches the Cincinnati final.

Sabalenka is seeking to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to win three consecutive US Open titles.

However, her preparations for the final Grand Slam of the season have been disappointing, with the 28-year-old suffering early exits in both Cincinnati and Toronto.

Since winning the “Sunshine Double” at Indian Wells and Miami in March, Sabalenka has reached only one semi-final, losing to Jessica Pegula in Berlin.

For Bejlek, the victory marked a breakthrough moment. The 20-year-old world number 35 secured her first win over a top-10 opponent and reached her first WTA 1000 quarter-final.

“I totally lost my words. I just keep believing and that was the key today,” Bejlek said.

“She played amazing tennis and I was just believing, keep fighting and I was just trying my best and that’s it.”

Bejlek, who won the Abu Dhabi hard-court title in February as a qualifier, will face former Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the quarter-finals.

Paul shocks Zverev

In the men’s tournament, American Tommy Paul produced another major upset by defeating top seed Alexander Zverev after saving a match point.

Zverev won the opening set and led 3-4 in the second before rain caused a 90-minute suspension.

The German French Open champion then had a match point at 6-5 in the second-set tie-break but failed to convert it as Paul forced a deciding set.

Zverev led 4-2 in the third before world number 24 Paul won four consecutive games to complete a 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 victory.

Paul will face Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals.