Aryna Sabalenka becomes highest seed to fall at Australian Open, beaten by Kaia Kanepi in fourth round
Second seed Aryna Sabalenka became the highest ranked player to fall at the Australian Open after losing in three sets to Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi in the fourth round. The Belarusian was beaten 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (10-7) by the 36-year-old after her serve fell apart having taken control of the match in the first set. Ad/> It is the first time that Kanepi, who has struggled with long-term injury for much of her career, has ever reached the last eight in Melbourne — and her first Grand Slam quarter-final since the US Open in 2017.
