Top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Alexander Zverev suffered surprise Cincinnati Masters exits just hours apart Wednesday as rain disrupted fourth-round play.
American Tommy Paul saved a match point before completing a 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 upset of Germany’s Zverev.
The biggest shock came on the women’s side, where Czech 35th-ranked Sara Bejlek stunned world No. 1 Sabalenka 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 in a gritty battle that ended shortly after midnight Thursday.
Former champion Sabalenka appeared in control early, opening a break lead and racing to a 5-1 advantage in the first-set tiebreaker. But Bejlek mounted a remarkable comeback, winning six of the next eight points to take the set after 65 minutes.
Bejlek continued to frustrate Sabalenka in the second set, breaking the Belarusian three times and recovering from 4-1 down to seize control.
She sealed the biggest win of her career with a love game capped by an ace, completing a stunning victory over the tournament’s top seed.
“I lost my words. It feels incredible,” Bejlek said after earning her first win over a top-10 player.
“I was playing what I was feeling and not really thinking. I was trying not to be nervous and just play. I believed in myself no matter what.”
Bejlek, who won the Abu Dhabi hard-court title in February as a qualifier, booked a quarterfinal clash with American Madison Keys.
It was yet another setback for Sabalenka with the start of the U.S. Open looming Aug. 30.
The four-time Grand Slam champion was ousted in the fourth round of the Toronto Masters last week after losing in the same round at Wimbledon and in the quarterfinals at the French Open.
Zverev’s match was interrupted by rain for 90 minutes during the seventh game of the second set and had two more five-minute pauses as drops were dried from the court.
French Open champion Zverev had a chance to close it out at 6-5 in the second-set tiebreaker but put a volley into the net.
The German again gained an edge in the deciding set with a break for a 4-2 lead, but Paul broke back in the next game and again for a 5-4 lead on his way to his third win over Zverev in their last four meetings.
“I’m not sure how I did it,” Paul said. “I put some returns in, he gave me some looks at second serves and he threw in a few doubles (faults). That always helps a ton.
“I went after the ball a bit more. I was having fun out there.”
Second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada was another casualty, falling 6-3, 6-4 to American Frances Tiafoe.
Zverev’s conqueror Paul next faces French Open runner-up Flavio Cobolli, who labored for two 1/2 hours to rally past red-hot Spaniard Rafael Jodar 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3.
American sixth seed Taylor Fritz dispatched Australian Chris O’Connell 6-4, 6-3.
Thiago Tirante, who upset Novak Djokovic in the second round, continued his surprise run, reaching his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Jakub Mensik.
Australian Alex de Minaur was no match for Frenchman Arthur Fils, who cruised to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over the fifth seed.
The 2023 women’s champion, Coco Gauff, saved all eight break points she faced in a 6-3, 6-2 win over Czech Marie Bouzkova.
The fourth seed double-faulted on her first match point but leaped up to smash an overhead winner on her second chance.
“I played well the whole match, going for my shots, coming forward and not letting her counterpunch,” Gauff said. “I’m happy with how I played.”
Defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek needed four match points to get past Diane Parry of France 6-3, 6-3.
The seventh-seeded Pole now faces a rematch of last week’s Toronto final against Elena Rybakina, who beat Diana Shnaider 6-4, 6-4.
Six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek captured her first title of 2026 with her victory over reigning Australian Open champion Rybakina in Toronto.
Two other current Grand Slam champions bowed out.
Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk rallied from a set down to beat French Open champion Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-0, 6-2.
Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova fell to Amanda Anisimova 6-1, 6-4 in another weather-disrupted match.
