The Cincinnati Open delivered major shocks on Friday as world number one Aryna Sabalenka and second-ranked Coco Gauff were both eliminated, while Carlos Alcaraz survived a stern test to book his place in the semi-finals.
Top seed and defending champion Sabalenka was swept aside 6-1, 6-4 by Elena Rybakina, who fired 11 aces in a dominant display to claim her fifth win over the Belarusian in 12 meetings.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion avenged her loss to Sabalenka in Berlin and set up a semi-final clash with Iga Swiatek, a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Anna Kalinskaya. Rybakina has beaten the Polish star in all three of their encounters this season.
Gauff, the reigning French Open champion and defending Cincinnati titleholder, appeared in control against Jasmine Paolini after a quick first set but unraveled with 16 double faults in a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 defeat.
The seventh-seeded Italian, who twisted her ankle early in the decider, will face Veronika Kudermetova in the last four after the Russian dispatched Varvara Gracheva 6-1, 6-2.
In the men’s draw, second seed Alcaraz overcame Andrey Rublev 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, sealing victory when the Russian double-faulted on match point.
The Spaniard, winner of five titles this season, will meet Alexander Zverev, who brushed aside Toronto champion Ben Shelton 6-2, 6-2 despite physical discomfort late in the match. Zverev, the 2021 champion, hopes to recover fully before the semi-final showdown.
