Sara Bejlek has just given Aryna Sabalenka a taste of her own medicine at the Cincinnati Open.
The Czech star pulled off a huge upset, beating the world No. 1 7-6(7), 6-4 in a thrilling match that lasted just under two hours.
Sabalenka looked to be in control in both sets, taking a 5-1 lead in the first-set tiebreak and going 4-1 up in the second, but Bejlek refused to give up. She fought back brilliantly, winning the tiebreak 9-7 before taking five games in a row to seal the second set.
Sabalenka hit 39 winners but also made 43 unforced errors, while Bejlek stayed calm, kept the ball in play and took her chances when they came. It was the biggest win of Bejlek’s career and a huge statement from the 20-year-old, who showed that she can handle the pressure against the very best.
Addressing the media after the match, Bejlek said, “I feel incredible. I lost totally my words. I just kept believing and that was the key today.”
Bejlek’s next opponent will be Madison Keys, and the two players have not played each other before, their head-to-head record is 0–0. Madison Keys made her professional tennis debut in 2009 at just 14 years old.
Since then, she has won 11 WTA singles titles, including her biggest achievement: the 2025 Australian Open, her first Grand Slam title.
