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Top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Alexander Zverev crashed out of the Cincinnati Masters within hours of each other on a rain-hit Wednesday, sending shockwaves through the tournament ahead of the US Open.
American Tommy Paul produced a major upset by saving a match point before defeating Germany’s Zverev 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4.
The biggest surprise came later when Czech world No. 35 Sara Bejlek stunned world No. 1 Sabalenka 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 in a dramatic fourth-round contest that finished shortly after midnight.
Sabalenka appeared in control during the opening set. She led by a break and held a 5-1 advantage in the tiebreak.
Bejlek refused to surrender. She fought back to win the tiebreak 9-7 and took the opening set after 65 minutes.
The Czech player then broke Sabalenka three times in the second set. She recovered from 4-1 down before sealing the biggest victory of her career with a love game and an ace.
“I lost my words — it feels incredible,” Bejlek said after securing her first win over a top-10 opponent.
Bejlek will face American Madison Keys in the quarter-finals.
The defeat adds to a difficult stretch for Sabalenka. The four-time Grand Slam champion also exited in the fourth round at the Toronto Masters last week and Wimbledon. She reached the French Open quarter-finals earlier this year.
With the US Open beginning on August 30, Sabalenka now faces renewed questions about her form heading into the final Grand Slam of the season.
Paul overcame Zverev in another dramatic contest that was repeatedly interrupted by rain.
The match stopped for 90 minutes during the seventh game of the second set. Two additional five-minute pauses followed as officials dried the court.
Zverev had a match point at 6-5 in the second-set tiebreak but missed a volley. Paul then took control in the deciding set.
The German moved ahead 4-2 before Paul immediately broke back. The American broke again for a 5-4 lead and completed his third victory over Zverev in their last four meetings.
“I’m not sure how I did it,” Paul said.
Paul will meet French Open runner-up Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals.
Second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime also suffered a fourth-round defeat. American Frances Tiafoe beat the Canadian 6-3, 6-4.
Sixth seed Taylor Fritz advanced with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Australia’s Chris O’Connell.
Thiago Tirante continued his unexpected run after upsetting Novak Djokovic in the second round. The Argentine defeated Jakub Mensik 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to reach his first Masters quarter-final.
Frenchman Arthur Fils also produced an upset, defeating fifth seed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4.
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Coco Gauff continued her Cincinnati campaign with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory over Czech player Marie Bouzkova.
The fourth seed saved all eight break points she faced. She eventually sealed the match on her second match point after double-faulting on the first.
“I played well the whole match,” Gauff said. “I’m happy with how I played.”
Defending champion Iga Swiatek also advanced, beating France’s Diane Parry 6-3, 6-3 after needing four match points to close out the contest.
Swiatek will now face Elena Rybakina in a repeat of last week’s Toronto final. Rybakina defeated Diana Shnaider 6-4, 6-4.
Two other reigning Grand Slam champions exited the tournament.
Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk came from a set down to defeat French Open champion Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-0, 6-2.
Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova also bowed out after losing to Amanda Anisimova 6-1, 6-4 in another match affected by rain.
The results have left the Cincinnati Masters quarter-final picture wide open, with several leading contenders already eliminated ahead of the US Open.
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