Sabalenka's Cincinnati collapse puts No. 1 ranking and US Open history under threat

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka lost 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 to 35th-ranked qualifier Sara Bejlek in Cincinnati's fourth round, surrendering a 5-1 tiebreak lead and a 4-1 second-set lead. Elena Rybakina can claim the top ranking by reaching the Cincinnati final. The US Open starts 30 August, with Sabalenka bidding for a third straight title — a feat last achieved by Serena Williams in 2014.