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Sabalenka Eliminated at Cincinnati Open, World No. 1 Ranking in Jeopardy
🇨🇱 Chile /Sports

Sabalenka Eliminated at Cincinnati Open, World No. 1 Ranking in Jeopardy

From Cooperativa · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated in the round of 16 at the Cincinnati Open by Czech player Sara Bejlek.
  • Sabalenka's loss puts her world number one ranking at risk, with Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina potentially taking the top spot.
  • Bejlek, ranked 35th, secured her first career win against a WTA Top 10 player.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka's reign at the top of women's tennis is under threat after her unexpected defeat at the Cincinnati Open. The Belarusian star fell in the round of 16 to the unseeded Czech teenager Sara Bejlek, marking a significant upset in the tournament.

Bejlek, currently ranked 35th in the world, secured a career-defining victory, defeating Sabalenka 7-6 (7), 6-4 in a match lasting just under two hours. This marks Bejlek's first-ever win against a Top 10 opponent on the WTA Tour.

The loss in Cincinnati jeopardizes the world number one ranking Sabalenka has held for 96 weeks. Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, the current world number two, could seize the top spot if she reaches the final of the tournament.

Rybakina is scheduled to play her quarterfinal match against Poland's Iga Swiatek. Sabalenka, who has yet to win a Grand Slam singles title, will be looking to regroup and defend her ranking in upcoming tournaments.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cooperativa in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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