Aryna Sabalenka Survives Massive Cincinnati Open Struggle With Emma Raducanu
"I'm happy to get through this difficult match," Sabalenka said. "I just hope tomorrow is a day off. I need time to recover from such a great battle."
Raducanu put up a huge fight, matching Sabalenka throughout.
The British number one survived a 25-minute eighth game of the final set, which went to 13 deuces, with Raducanu saving four break points before finally holding for 4-all and eventually into a tiebreaker.
But Sabalenka squeezed out victory with a sixth ace for 5-4 in the breaker and delivered her seventh on second match point to bring the battle to a close after three hours and nine minutes.
"It was all about momentum," Sabalenka said. "I took some risks at the end, went for crazy shots, went to the net.
"A risky game from me helped to put a lot of pressure on her," she said of an opponent whom she hugged warmly at the net.
Sabalenka is bidding for her 10th trophy at the 1000 level and second this season after winning at Madrid.
In other third-round results at the last major tuneup prior to the US Open, Ekaterina Alexandrova defeated Australian Maya Joint 6-4, 6-3.
Sorana Cirstea defeated Yuan Yue 6-7 (2/7), 6-4, 6-4 and will next play third seed Iga Swiatek, who got a walkover into the round of 16.
Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, a quarter-finalist this month in Montreal, made further hard court progress with a 6-4, 6-1 thrashing of American wild card Taylor Townsend.
Her next opponent will be Sabalenka on Wednesday.
In the men's draw, seventh seed Holger Rune, a semi-finalist here a year ago, won his 99th career match on cement, ending the hopes of Alex Michelsen 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.
Felix Auger-Aliassime got a win for Canada, advancing 7-6 (7/4), 4-2 when French opponent Arthur Rinderknech retired with apparent heat illness after two gruelling hours on court.
American Frances Tiafoe advanced past Ugo Humbert of France 6-4, 6-4 in 82 minutes.
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an hour ago
- Mint
Elena Rybakina stuns world no. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Cincinnati Open 2025 clash; set to face Iga Swiatek in semifinals
The 2025 Cincinnati Open delivered a major upset as Elena Rybakina defeated world no. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a commanding straight-sets victory in the quarterfinals. Rybakina's dominant performance showcased her ability to challenge the best, advancing her to the semifinals. Aryna Sabalenka has been a force in women's tennis throughout 2025, consistently reaching the later stages of major tournaments. She reached the finals of both the Australian Open and French Open, while also securing a semifinal spot at Wimbledon. However, despite her deep runs, she didn't claim any titles this year. The Cincinnati Open proved to be another hurdle, as Sabalenka was unable to find her rhythm against Elena Rybakina. Elena Rybakina controlled the match since the beginning, leaving Aryna Sabalenka struggling to keep up. The first set was a one-sided affair, with Rybakina cruising to a 6-1 victory. Sabalenka showed resilience in the second set, pushing Rybakina harder, but it wasn't enough to turn the tide. Rybakina sealed the match with a 6-4 win in the second set, advancing to the semifinals in style. Rybakina's serve was the standout feature of her performance. She delivered an impressive 11 aces, compared to Sabalenka's four, and won 80.6 percent of her first-serve points. The win marked Rybakina's fifth win over Sabalenka in their 12 career meetings, highlighting the growing intensity of their rivalry. Sabalenka dominated early, winning their first four encounters, but Rybakina has since turned the tables. Over their last eight matches, Rybakina holds a 5-3 edge. With this victory, Elena Rybakina has sealed her berth in the semifinals, where she will face Iga Swiatek on Sunday. The matchup promises to be a thrilling contest, as the two have a closely contested history. In their nine previous meetings, Swiatek leads 5-4, but Rybakina has shown she can hold her own against the former world No. 1. Rybakina will aim to even the score in their 10th encounter, with a spot in the Cincinnati Open final on the line. For Aryna Sabalenka, the loss is a setback but not the end of her remarkable season. Her consistent performances in 2025 demonstrate her resilience and talent, and she will look to regroup ahead of the upcoming US Open. On the other hand, Elena Rybakina's confidence is soaring as she prepares for her semifinal showdown against Swiatek.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
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