Aryna Sabalenka said she has “lessons to learn” after her run at the 2026 Canadian Open ended sooner than expected in Toronto.

The world No 1 was beaten 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4 by 19th-ranked Ekaterina Alexandrova in the fourth round of the WTA 1000 event. It was Sabalenka’s first tournament since her last-16 defeat to Naomi Osaka at Wimbledon last month, and another result that underlined a difficult stretch by her recent standards.

The four-time Grand Slam champion has now fallen before the final in each of her last six tournaments. During that sequence, she managed only one semi-final, which came at the Berlin Open. Before that decline, Sabalenka had put together an outstanding opening to the season, winning 26 of her first 27 matches in 2026.

That early surge included titles at the Brisbane International and the Indian Wells and Miami Open events, along with a place in the Australian Open final. Her quarter-final loss to Hailey Baptiste at the Madrid Open in April ended a 15-match winning streak, marking the start of a more uneven period.

After the defeat in Canada, Sabalenka posted a brief message on Instagram. “Leaving Toronto with a lot of love and lessons to learn. Onto the next,” wrote the 28-year-old.

Alexandrova, meanwhile, was asked to assess the task of facing the top-ranked player after securing the win. She praised the breadth of Sabalenka’s game and the way she can disrupt opponents’ timing and rhythm.

“I think, I mean, she has every aspect of the game, I think, in a very high level,” said the 31-year-old Russian.

“She has an amazing serve, return. She can make amazing shots from both sides, the forehand and the backhand. She can play the dropshot and the volley. So basically she can do anything.

“You need to be prepared for that, that, like, that there’s not going to be, like, some easy points or easy shots. So every point you play, you need to be super focused and super prepared for anything.

“Because even when you make a good shot and you expect something easier for you just to finish the point, maybe it’s not the case with her because she can play it like, you know, like even better shot from your good shot. I think that’s the difficulty to playing against her.

“Also, she also is good with the switching, like, timing and the rhythm. Because like today I didn’t feel any particular rhythm. Sometimes it was super fast, sometimes it was slower, sometimes it was with the spin. It’s really hard to readjust for this type of game.”

Coco Gauff has highlighted the impact of Alex Eala’s rise, saying the Filipina is bringing something valuable to the sport and calling her a “great role model.”

Eala reached a career-best ranking of world No 20 last week after capturing her first title at the Washington Open. That breakthrough at the WTA 500 event extended her momentum into the Canadian Open, where she opened with two straight three-set victories to push her winning streak to seven matches.

Her run in Toronto ended in the fourth round with a 6-0, 6-4 loss to world No 14 Belinda Bencic. Even so, Eala drew major support in both Washington DC and Toronto, where fans from the Philippines turned out in large numbers.

Gauff was asked about Eala’s influence after her fourth-round victory over Alina Korneeva in Toronto. The 22-year-old American was clear about what the rising player adds to the tour.

“I think, like I said before, like, the demographic that she brings to the sport of tennis is something we all benefit from,” said the 22-year-old American.

“I played her in Dubai and that was, it felt like we were in the Philippines. I thought it was so fun to play in that crowd.

“I played her at Indian Wells, and it felt like it was a little bit more American-leaning that match. I didn’t get to finish it, unfortunately.

“But, yeah, I think what she’s doing for the sport of tennis is great. I think she’s a great role model for people to look up to.

“I said it the last time: What you guys see on camera is who she is off court. That’s something I really respect when someone is who they are at all times.”

Gauff also commented on the overall strength of the WTA Tour, saying the level of competition has made every match difficult and that the depth has increased since she began on tour. She pointed to the steady number of different Grand Slam winners and the No 1 ranking being up for grabs as signs of that strength.

Alex Eala’s rapid climb has turned her from an intriguing prospect into a genuine force in women’s tennis. In just a few weeks, she has captured attention around the sport and assembled a global following that looks set to keep growing.

Her run to the Wimbledon last 16, highlighted by a win over defending champion Iga Swiatek, was followed last week by her first WTA Tour title in Washington. Those results have put her firmly in the conversation for the game’s biggest prizes, and they also point toward a major commercial surge.

One likely beneficiary is Nike, with whom Eala already has a clothing deal. That agreement appears poised for renewal on better terms, especially as her profile continues to rise. Her link with the Rafael Nadal Academy may also have helped establish that relationship, given the company’s long association with the player whose name is attached to her training base.

The commercial comparison to Emma Raducanu is hard to avoid. After her US Open triumph five years ago, Raducanu attracted a wave of sponsorships, helped by her appeal across multiple markets. Eala now has a chance to surpass that model, with her popularity in the Philippines expected to extend well beyond her home country.

She already holds deals with Globe Telecom, Babolat, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Milo Philippines and Locally Juice, and has recently been added by Marriott Bonvoy, the award-winning travel program of Marriott International and Official Hotel Partner of the Australian Open. That addition suggests companies are moving quickly to secure a place in her growing story.

Raducanu’s Uniqlo deal, reported at around $3.5m a year, offers a useful benchmark. Eala could move beyond that if she renews with Nike, and she may already command more than Raducanu in major sponsorship talks.

Coco Gauff’s estimated $23 million in annual off-court earnings remains the standard at the top of the market, but Eala may be building toward that level. A Grand Slam title may be needed to reach the very summit, yet even now she is positioned for life-changing endorsement opportunities and could be set to earn $10m from this point forward.