Sabalenka eliminated in Cincinnati round of 16 by Bejlek

Bejlek, who had gone into the match as the underdog, took her chances consistently and established the decisive advantage as early as the first set. In the tiebreak, the Czech kept her nerve and won it 9:7. Bejlek then controlled the second set, serving it out with confidence.

The match in Ohio makes clear that Sabalenka is not finding her rhythm in the decisive phase of her US Open preparations, the rhythm she needs for another attempt at the Grand Slam title.

The round-of-16 exit is part of a longer stretch of inconsistent performances from the world No. 1. After strong months at the start of the year, results have been inconsistent of late — something Bejlek exploited ruthlessly with a tactically disciplined performance.

Implications for the US Open

The hard-court tournament in Cincinnati is traditionally regarded as one of the final dress rehearsals before the US Open. Numerous top players use the event to gain match practice on the surface that is also played in New York.

Sabalenka's early exit also shifts the balance of power for the remainder of the tournament. Bejlek faces the winner of a parallel matchup in the quarterfinals and could push on to the semifinals with another win.

Outlook on the tournament

Sabalenka has little time left to draw the right conclusions from her performance in Cincinnati. Before the US Open, she has only a few days of training left to regain her confidence.

The tournament in Cincinnati runs until the end of the week. The semifinal and final matches are scheduled for the coming days, while in parallel the ATP Masters in Toronto is being played, which also serves as important preparation for the US Open.