Toronto Day 8 Recap Served Up by Sobeys:…

Skip to main content directly

Day 8 was marked by upsets as two more Top 5 players suffered stunning defeats before the quarter-finals at the National Bank Open in Toronto.

Here is the Day 8 Recap Served Up by Sobeys:

Match Results

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka opened the night session on Centre Court and was the latest Top 5 seed to be eliminated from the NBO. The 19th-ranked Ekaterina Alexandrova took the first set in a tiebreaker after each woman broke the other’s serve three times. Sabalenka took the second by converting her only break of the set to even things up.

Listen: Toronto in 10 - Swiatek, Shnaider Shine and a Culinary Surprise

The third set resembled the first as each woman managed to convert multiple breaks in a tight set. Alexandrova put the four-time Grand Slam winner on the brink, forcing Sabalenka to serve to stay in the tournament down 5-4. She fended off two break and match points but would not survive the third, dropping the set and the match 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4.

Two-time NBO champion Jessica Pegula was the first major upset on Saturday, as she was ousted by No. 15 Diana Shnaider in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. With Pegula, Sabalenka, and Mirra Andreeva eliminated, No. 2 Elena Rybakina and No. 4 Coco Gauff are the only Top 5 seeds remaining in the draw.

Iga Swiatek survived an early scare and rallied to beat Marta Kostyuk 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. The six-time Grand Slam champion was unsuccessful on serve in the first set, as Kostyuk broke her in all four service games. Swiatek turned things around in the second and third, and was not broken the rest of the way.

CLICK HERE for all match results.

Around The Grounds

It was Tennisfest Weekend on the ground as the round of 16 got underway. Retro Night returned as fans came in their best 90’s tennis outfits to celebrate one of the sport's most iconic eras.

Photo : Barry McCluskey/Wick Photography for National Bank Open

Tennis Talk hosted another insightful panel as Toronto Sceptres captain Blayre Turnbull, Toronto Tempo owner Reetu Gupta, AFC Toronto CEO Helena Ruken, and Tennis Canada’s director of women’s and girls’ advancement, Terri Temelini, hopped on the Tennis Canada Main Stage to talk about the rise of women’s sport in Toronto.

Listen: Tennis Talk – Toronto Women’s Sports Unite!

Canadian players Kayla Cross and Ariana Arseneault joined fans for an autograph session and Q&A.

The WTA's best return to Toronto for the National Bank Open presented by Rogers Aug 1 to 13 at Sobeys Stadium. Get your tickets today!

Feature Photo : Mark Blinch/Wick Photography for National Bank Open