Sabalenka and Pegula Fall as Swiatek Reaches Quarterfinals | WTA Toronto 2026 Roundup
WTA Toronto 2026 Roundup | Day 7
Saturday brought the first Round-of-16 matches at the National Bank Open, and two of the tournament’s biggest names were sent packing.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka fell to Ekaterina Alexandrova in a three-set battle, while two-time Toronto champion Jessica Pegula was beaten in straight sets by Diana Shnaider.
Iga Swiatek had problems of her own but recovered strongly against Marta Kostyuk to book her place in the quarterfinals.
Here’s our Saturday roundup.
Alexandrova knocks out world No. 1 Sabalenka
Ekaterina Alexandrova def. Aryna Sabalenka — 7–6(3), 4–6, 6–4
The biggest result of Saturday night belonged to Ekaterina Alexandrova.
After taking a closely contested opening set in a tiebreak, Alexandrova lost the second and then found herself a break down early in the deciding set. Rather than letting Sabalenka take control, she responded with four consecutive games.
Sabalenka fought back to 4–4, but Alexandrova created another opening with the world No. 1 serving to stay in the tournament. Sabalenka saved two match points before a double fault on the third ended her Toronto campaign.
Watch: Official highlights — Alexandrova vs. Sabalenka
Shnaider ends Pegula’s Toronto run
Diana Shnaider def. Jessica Pegula — 6–3, 6–3
Jessica Pegula won’t be adding another Toronto title to her collection this year.
Diana Shnaider produced one of Saturday’s most convincing performances, defeating the No. 3 seed in straight sets.
The match remained competitive early, but Shnaider increasingly took control. She finished the second set by winning four consecutive games to complete the upset and reach the quarterfinals.
For Pegula, it ends another Canadian campaign at a tournament where she has enjoyed considerable success.
Watch: Highlights — Shnaider vs. Pegula
Swiatek recovers after difficult opening set
Iga Swiatek def. Marta Kostyuk — 3–6, 6–1, 6–2
For one set, another major upset appeared possible.
Swiatek couldn’t hold serve once in the opening set, with Kostyuk breaking her in all four service games.
Then the match changed completely.
Swiatek finally held serve at the beginning of the second set, immediately broke Kostyuk and took control. She wasn’t broken again across the final two sets, completing a 3–6, 6–1, 6–2 comeback to advance to the quarterfinals.
She will next face Diana Shnaider, giving Saturday’s giant-killer another significant test.
Watch: Official highlights — Swiatek vs. Kostyuk
Svitolina moves past Anisimova
Elina Svitolina def. Amanda Anisimova — 6–2, 6–4
Elina Svitolina quietly continued her impressive Toronto run with a straight-sets victory over Amanda Anisimova.
Svitolina raced through the opening set in only 29 minutes and built a double-break advantage in the second. Anisimova mounted a late resistance, saving four match points in one game and recovering one of the breaks.
Svitolina didn’t allow the comeback to develop further, holding to love when she next served for the match.
Watch: Official highlights — Swiatek vs. Kostyuk
Krawczyk and Hunter cruise in doubles
Storm Hunter / Desirae Krawczyk def. Chan Hao-ching / Maya Joint — 6–2, 6–2
And one of the players we’ve been following had a very good Saturday.
Desirae Krawczyk and Storm Hunter produced a commanding doubles performance, winning 6–2, 6–2.
The scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story. Hunter and Krawczyk faced eight break points but saved every one of them, while converting four of their own five opportunities.
That’s the kind of efficiency that wins doubles matches quickly.
They move on to the quarterfinals.
Saturday doubles results
There was plenty happening away from Centre Court as the doubles draw moved toward the quarterfinal stage.
- Ann Li / Clara Tauson def. Ingrid Neel / Giuliana Olmos — 4–6, 7–6(3), 11–9
- Hsieh Su-wei / Jelena Ostapenko def. Ulrikke Eikeri / Quinn Gleason — 6–4, 7–6(1)
- Katerina Siniakova / Zhang Shuai def. Coco Gauff / Caty McNally — 6–0, 6–4
- Elise Mertens / Diana Shnaider def. Jiang Xinyu / Wu Fang-hsien — 6–3, 6–3
- Ellen Perez / Demi Schuurs def. Asia Muhammad / Fanny Stollar — 6–4, 6–2
- Sara Errani / Nicole Melichar-Martinez def. Miyu Kato / Liudmila Samsonova — 6–2, 6–2
- Storm Hunter / Desirae Krawczyk def. Chan Hao-ching / Maya Joint — 6–2, 6–2
What Sunday’s Toronto matches bring
Saturday completed the top half of the singles Round of 16. Sunday turns to the other half—and that’s where several of the storylines we’ve been following collide.
Alexandra Eala vs. Belinda Bencic
Eala’s winning streak survived another test against Caty McNally on Friday. Now comes Olympic champion Belinda Bencic, with a Toronto quarterfinal place on the line.
Leylah Fernandez vs. Naomi Osaka
After Fernandez’s excellent straight-sets upset of Mirra Andreeva, the Canadian gets another major challenge against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
Those two matches should give Sunday’s Tennis Roundup plenty to talk about.
More from the WTA Toronto 2026 Roundup
Follow our daily coverage of the National Bank Open in Toronto, including singles and doubles results, notable performances and available official match highlights.
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— Jun Pasion
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