Sabalenka edges Raducanu in marathon clash in Cincinnati Open, Fritz cruises past Sonego
Fresh off their third-round clash at Wimbledon last month, Sabalenka and Raducanu produced another epic contest, featuring a 13-deuce game in the third set, before the Belarusian sealed victory in three hours and nine minutes.
Sabalenka relied on her trademark powerful serve to hold firm in the key moments, winning two tiebreaks to take her tally to 18 for the season, the most by any women's singles player in the professional era.
Despite the defeat, Raducanu seems to be finding her best form just in time for this month's U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows, where she triumphed in 2021. The Briton outscored Sabalenka in total points won, 125–123.
"I'm really happy to see her healthy. I can see she's improving," Sabalenka said of Raducanu.
"Happy to get through this match. I really hope tomorrow I have a day off."
Sabalenka next faces Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the last 16.
Elsewhere, Anna Kalinskaya stunned American fifth seed Amanda Anisimova 7-5 6-4 for her third win against a Top 10 opponent in the season. She will face fellow Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova in the next round.
After a one-hour delay caused by a power outage, fourth seed Taylor Fritz defeated Italy's Sonego 7-6(4) 7-5.
The 27-year-old American did not face a break point and capitalised on his lone break opportunity before serving out the match, sealing the win in two hours and eight minutes.
Former champion Madison Keys booked her place in the last 16 with a 6-4 6-0 win over Japan's Aoi Ito, edging a tight first set before storming through the second in just 20 minutes.
"In the first set I got off to a pretty good lead and then kind of lost my way a bit," sixth seed Keys said. "Once I got a break early in the second I wanted to run away with it and keep that momentum and I did."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Venus Williams receives US Open wildcard
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Aug 7, 2025; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Venus Williams (USA) is unable to return a shot against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (ESP) during the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images/File Photo NEW YORK - Two-time U.S. Open singles champion Venus Williams has received a wildcard entry into this year's tournament, organisers said on Wednesday, as the 45-year-old American continues her age-defying return to the court. Williams became the oldest player to win a WTA singles match since 2004 when she beat Peyton Stearns at last month's Washington Open after a 16-month absence from competitive tennis. She last played in the U.S. Open singles main draw in 2023, losing in the first round to Belgian Greet Minnen. The seven-time Grand Slam winner is also playing in the tournament's new-look mixed doubles tournament with compatriot Reilly Opelka. Other women's singles wildcards included France's Caroline Garcia, in what will likely be the 2022 semi-finalist's last appearance at Flushing Meadows. The 2022 WTA Finals winner announced plans to retire from the sport earlier this year. REUTERS
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Venus Williams receives US Open wildcard
NEW YORK :Two-time U.S. Open singles champion Venus Williams has received a wildcard entry into this year's tournament, organisers said on Wednesday, as the 45-year-old American continues her age-defying return to the court. Williams became the oldest player to win a WTA singles match since 2004 when she beat Peyton Stearns at last month's Washington Open after a 16-month absence from competitive tennis. She last played in the U.S. Open singles main draw in 2023, losing in the first round to Belgian Greet Minnen. The seven-time Grand Slam winner is also playing in the tournament's new-look mixed doubles tournament with compatriot Reilly Opelka. Other women's singles wildcards included France's Caroline Garcia, in what will likely be the 2022 semi-finalist's last appearance at Flushing Meadows. The 2022 WTA Finals winner announced plans to retire from the sport earlier this year.
CNA
15 hours ago
- CNA
Alcaraz eases past Medjedovic in Cincinnati before rain forces suspension
Carlos Alcaraz beat Hamad Medjedovic 6-4 6-4 to reach the Cincinnati Open last 16 on Tuesday, battling the sweltering Ohio heat to notch a tour-leading 50th victory of the season before the evening session was suspended due to rain. The Spanish second seed also secured his 13th consecutive win at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament, converting three of seven break points in a deliberate, slow-paced contest. Treated for neck pain after the first set, Serbia's Medjedovic ramped up in the second to shorten rallies, out-hitting Alcaraz 25–16 on winners but committing 38 unforced errors to the Spaniard's 18. "I know he's a really powerful player," Alcaraz said. "His shots are incredibly hard to return. He has a big serve also. I know he doesn't like to run too much from side to side, so my plan was to make him run as much as I could." Monte Carlo and Rome champion Alcaraz next faces Italian Luca Nardi as he continues his bid for an eight Masters 1000 title. Earlier, Andrey Rublev rallied from a set down to edge Alexei Popyrin 6-7(5) 7-6(5) 7-5 in a fierce 3-1/2-hour battle. The Russian ninth seed will play against Argentine Franciso Comesana, who claimed a stunning 6-7(4) 6-4 7-5 win over American Reilly Opelka. In the women's draw, second seed Coco Gauff advanced after Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska withdrew from their third-round clash due to illness. The American will face Lucia Bronzetti, who beat 23rd seed Jelena Ostapenko 1-6 6-3 6-4. It marked the second third-round walkover, following fellow Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk's withdrawal before her match against Polish third seed Iga Swiatek. The Wimbledon champion will take on Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the round of 16. In the evening session, men's third seed Alexander Zverev and women's fourth seed Jessica Pegula were forced off the court mid-match due to rain and the threat of lightning. The suspension was particularly frustrating for Zverev, who had a 6-4 5-4 lead in his match against American Brandon Nakashima and was about to serve for the win. Pegula rallied to take the second set 6-3 in her meeting with Magda Linette, leaving their match all square after the Pole won the first 7-6(5). Canadian Open winner Ben Shelton's match with Roberto Bautista Agut and Dane Clara Tauson's match with Veronika Kudermetova were both moved to Wednesday. Tuesday's rain-enforced suspension was the latest in a string of interruptions at the Cincinnati Open this week. On Monday, Jannik Sinner's win over Gabriel Diallo was delayed by a fire alarm before the players continued through the noise. There was also a one-hour delay due to a power outage.
