Toronto's hard courts served up a seismic Saturday as both Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula crashed out in the fourth round, shaking up the draw ahead of the US Open. While the world number one's defeat to Ekaterina Alexandrova headlined the evening, the day's results sent a clear message: form and rankings mean little when the pressure mounts. Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, saw her hopes of a third consecutive US Open title dented by a 7-6(7/3), 4-6, 6-4 loss to the Russian 16th seed. The Belarusian's serve, a weapon she has long relied on, betrayed her at the worst possible moment, culminating in a sixth double fault on match point. Main Developments Alexandrova's triumph was built on a fearless game plan. "I wasn't trying to think about the score or anything like beating number one," she said. "I was just trying to do my best." The Russian played every point like it was her last, a strategy that paid off after 2 hours and 29 minutes of high-octane tennis. Read also: Iraola's Anfield Debut Ends in Monaco Comeback Loss The match swung through dramatic momentum shifts. Sabalenka dropped the first set in a tiebreak, with Alexandrova winning five of the final six points. The Belarusian fought back to level the match, but in the decider she faced match points on her serve in the 10th game. She saved the first with a service winner and the second with an ace, only to send a backhand long and then double fault to hand Alexandrova the victory. Alexandrova's aggressive approach was deliberate. "I was trying to play super aggressive, the way I didn't play for a long time. It worked," she explained. "I had the feeling I have some kind of power and I can create something and it helped me mentally." The Russian will next face Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, who dispatched American Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 6-4 in just 78 minutes. Earlier, world number three Jessica Pegula fell to Russian 15th seed Diana Shnaider 6-3, 6-3 in a mere 73 minutes. Shnaider, a 22-year-old left-hander, was clinical throughout, saying, "This week I've been very comfortable on both defending and just firing some winners. It was working well." She now meets Poland's Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals. Swiatek, the seventh seed and a four-time French Open champion, also advanced, rallying past Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. The Pole saved nine break points in the last two sets without dropping serve, a gritty display that underscored her resilience. "In the second I came out… playing a bit faster and more heavy and pushing Marta a little bit more," Swiatek said. Background The Toronto Masters has long been a proving ground for hard-court specialists, and this year's edition has been no exception. Sabalenka arrived as the top seed and reigning US Open champion, with her eyes set on a third straight title in New York. Pegula, a consistent top-five presence, was also seen as a contender on these fast courts. Alexandrova, meanwhile, has often flown under the radar despite her powerful baseline game. Her victory over Sabalenka is among the biggest of her career, and she will now aim to reach her first Masters semi-final. For Shnaider, the win over Pegula marks a continuation of a breakout season that has seen her climb steadily through the rankings. In Montreal, the men's draw produced its own drama. Spanish teen Rafael Jodar, the 19-year-old runner-up in Washington last week, ousted Czech eighth seed Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals. Jodar, ranked 15th, has now reached the last eight in seven of his past eight events, and a Montreal title would push him into the top 10 for the first time. Jodar's opponent will be French 18th seed Arthur Fils, who edged Britain's Cameron Norrie 6-2, 7-6(10/8). Fils, who lost to Jodar in the Washington final, is playing in his fourth Masters quarter-final of the year. "It was a very nice battle," Fils said. "The second set was back and forth. He really raised his level." Italian Luciano Darderi also advanced, fuelled by an espresso shot during a changeover in a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Nuno Borges. Darderi, ranked 22nd, is playing in his ATP-leading 10th quarter-final of the season and will face American Brandon Nakashima, who survived a rain-interrupted match against Arthur Rinderknech. Why It Matters The upsets in Toronto have blown the women's draw wide open. With Sabalenka and Pegula gone, the path to the title becomes more accessible for players like Swiatek, who has yet to win a hard-court Masters event. For Alexandrova and Shnaider, these victories could be career-defining, offering a chance to break into the upper echelon of the sport. For Sabalenka, the loss is a significant setback in her US Open preparation. She had been aiming to build momentum on North American hard courts, and a fourth-round exit raises questions about her form and fitness. Her serve, usually a reliable weapon, let her down at critical moments, a concern she will need to address before New York. In Montreal, J