World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka has been knocked out of the Cincinnati Open after suffering a shock straight-sets defeat to Czech player Sara Bejlek.

The 35th-ranked and unseeded Bejlek defeated the four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalanka 7-6 (7) 6-4 in just under two hours to advance to the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 event.

Bejlek rallied from 5-1 down in a first-set tiebreaker then came from 4-1 behind in the second set to clinch her first career victory over a top-10 opponent.

The 20-year-old from Znojmo will next face Madison Keys in the quarter-finals.

Bejlek was left speechless at what she had achieved.

"I feel incredible. I lost totally my words," she said on court after the match. "I just kept believing and that was the key today."

Sabalenka's defeat means Elena ⁠Rybakina can replace her as world ⁠No 1 by reaching the Cincinnati final.

Coco Gauff advanced to the quarter-finals after sweeping past 22nd-seeded Czech Marie Bouzkova 6-3 6-2.

The fourth-seeded Gauff needed just one-hour and 33 minutes to progress and will face Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk next for a spot in the semi-finals.

Paul beats top seed Zverev as Tiafoe beats second seed Auger-Aliassime

Tommy Paul saved ‌a match point to defeat top seed Alexander Zverev ‌4-6 7-6(6) 6-4 and reach the quarter-finals of ​the Cincinnati Open after a nearly 90-minute rain delay.

Zverev took ‌the first set and trailed 3-4 in the ​second before the fourth-round match was suspended due to rain.

Paul emerged from the lengthy ​delay looking the sharper ⁠player, saving a match ⁠point before levelling the contest as Zverev struggled to find ‌his rhythm.

The German took a 4-2 lead in the third set but Paul ‌dug his heels in to take control of the match, rallying to win four straight games in a stunning comeback to ⁠advance to the quarter-finals in ​Cincinnati for the first time.

He will face Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals.

Frances Tiafoe notched a milestone victory when he delivered one of the most composed performances of his season to upset second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4 6-4 at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

With the victory, the 28-year-old advanced to his second Masters 1000 quarter-final of the season, having also reached the last eight in Miami. It is the first time in his career that Tiafoe has reached multiple Masters 1000 quarter-finals in a single season.

The American will next face Lorenzo Musetti, who defeated Jaime Faria 7-5 6-2 in 75 minutes.

Arthur Fils also made his mark as he came through with a 6-3 6-4 win over fifth seed Alex De Minaur.

Taylor Fritz, the highest-ranked American man remaining in the tournament, beat Australian Christopher O'Connell in straight sets, 6-4 6-3.

Meanwhile, Thiago Tirante, who beat Novak Djokovic in the second round, became the first Argentine to reach the quarters in Cincinnati since Juan Martín del Potro in 2018 with a 5-7 6-4 6-4 win over Jakub Mensik.

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