Defending champions Sabalenka, Sinner advance in rain-hit Cincinnati Open
Fresh off a thrilling third-round battle with Emma Raducanu, reigning champion Sabalenka had an easier ride against the Spaniard, earning her tour-leading 50th win in one hour and 20 minutes.
"I was up a break, made a couple of mistakes and she broke me back," Sabalenka said. "I'm glad to win in straight sets. I didn't want to stay for three hours."
The Belarusian will next meet Elena Rybakina in a final-worthy showdown, as the ninth-seeded Kazakh rallied to beat Madison Keys 6-7(3) 6-4 6-2.
Earlier, third seed Iga Swiatek reached the quarters with a 6-4 6-4 win over Sorana Cirstea, with the Wimbledon champion extending her perfect record against the Romanian to 5-0.
"We played many tough matches, so I know Sorana can really hit the ball well, especially on faster surfaces," Poland's Swiatek said.
"Not many of my first serves went in, but I was happy I was solid on my second serves."
Fellow Pole Magda Linette secured her second Top-10 win of the season, upsetting fourth seed Jessica Pegula 7-6(5) 3-6 6-3 in a third-round match that extended over two days after Tuesday's suspension due to rain.
SINNER, ALCARAZ THROUGH
In the men's draw, top seed Sinner kept his title defence on track, beating France's Mannarino 6-4 7-6(4) after an almost three-hour rain interruption.
The Italian struggled to find his rhythm, failing to serve out at 6-5 but sealing the tiebreak with back-to-back aces for his 24th consecutive hard-court victory.
"He is a very tough opponent. Very different from other opponents, not only because he is a lefty but how he hits the ball. It's very low," Sinner said. "I just tried to serve well and tried to see what I could do in the return games."
Sinner will face 23rd seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in his fifth quarter-final this year.
Second seed Carlos Alcaraz booked his 18th Masters 1000 quarter-final by beating Italy's Luca Nardi 6-1 6-4. The Spaniard, into the last eight in Cincinnati for the third time, has now won 36 of his last 38 matches.
"This match was the best so far for me in this tournament," Alcaraz said. "I'm really happy with the way I felt the ball today and the way that I moved. I got used to the conditions, the humidity and heat. I'm happy to get through."
Ben Shelton, whose match was also halted after the first set, progressed to the last 16 with a 7-6(3) 6-3 win over Roberto Bautista Agut. The American fifth seed will face Czech Jiri Lehecka.
Alexander Zverev completed a 6-4 6-4 win over Brandon Nakashima after the match was suspended overnight when he was leading 5-4 in the second set.
The German third seed is set to return to the court later on Wednesday, aiming to avenge last week's Toronto semi-final loss to Russian Karen Khachanov.
French qualifier Terence Atmane earned the biggest win of his career by stunning fourth seed Taylor Fritz 3-6 7-5 6-3, earning his first Masters 1000 quarter-final berth.
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Defending champion Sinner storms into Cincinnati Open semi-finals
Defending champion Jannik Sinner swept past Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-0 6-2 on Thursday to reach the Cincinnati Open semi-finals, with the world number one extending his hardcourt winning streak to 25 matches. Sinner delivered a dominant performance, capitalising on his opponent's 29 unforced errors to claim his first win in three meetings against the Canadian 23rd seed in just 71 minutes. "Today I felt great on court. I think you saw that but every day is going to be different," Sinner said. "Tomorrow is a day off, which is good for me. We will try and put some reps in and then see what I can do in the semis." The 23-year-old Italian became only the fifth man this century to record 25 consecutive victories on the surface alongside Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray. He will next face French qualifier Terence Atmane, who continued his impressive run by upsetting Danish seventh seed Holger Rune 6-2 6-3. "I don't think any words can describe how I feel right now," Atmane, 23, said. "It's pretty insane to be honest. I cannot believe it. "Being here in the semi-finals of a Masters 1000, breaking into the Top 100 and even more with the win tonight — it's also a lot of money for me, so it's going to be very helpful for my career. It means a lot to me. I'm very emotional about it." Canadian Open champion Ben Shelton advanced to the quarter-finals after beating Czech 22nd seed Jiri Lehecka 6-4 6-4. "I'm hungry. I'm in a good rhythm," Shelton said. "I'm playing good tennis and my body feels good. "I think the confidence along with not being satisfied, wanting to prove myself over and over every time that I'm out on the court, and having things that I want to get better at is a huge motivation for me and it pushes me every match." Next up for the American fifth seed is German third seed Alexander Zverev. In the women's draw, American second seed Coco Gauff secured her place in the quarter-finals with a 6-2 6-4 win over Italy's Lucia Bronzetti. "For the most part I played aggressive. Maybe got a bit passive in some of those games. But it's tough. The balls are super light and they fly," Gauff said. "She wasn't giving me much pace. I was trying to play with control but also aggressive. I think I did well. I missed a couple of balls. But I learned from it and was able to close it out." The twice Grand Slam champion will next face another Italian, seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, who knocked out Barbora Krejcikova 6-1 6-2 in a rematch of the 2024 Wimbledon final, which the Czech won.
Straits Times
6 hours ago
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Defending champion Sinner storms into Cincinnati semi-finals
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Aug 14, 2025; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Jannik Sinner (ITA) returns a shot against Felix Auger Aliassime (CAN) during the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images Defending champion Jannik Sinner swept past Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-0 6-2 on Thursday to reach the Cincinnati Open semi-finals, with the world number one extending his hardcourt winning streak to 25 matches. Sinner delivered a dominant performance, capitalising on his opponent's 29 unforced errors to claim his first win in three meetings against the Canadian in just 71 minutes. "Today I felt great on court. I think you saw that but every day is going to be different," Sinner said. "Tomorrow is a day off, which is good for me. We will try and put some reps in and then see what I can do in the semis." The Italian became only the fifth man this century to record 25 consecutive victories on the surface alongside Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. He will face either Danish seventh seed Holger Rune or French qualifier Terence Atmane. In the women's draw, second seed Coco Gauff secured her place in the quarter-finals with a 6-2 6-4 win over Italy's Lucia Bronzetti. "For the most part I played aggressive. Maybe got a bit passive in some of those games. But it's tough. The balls are super light and they fly," Gauff said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 100 people being investigated for vape offences, say MOH and HSA Singapore Bukit Merah fire: Residents relocated as town council carries out restoration works Singapore askST: What to do in the event of a fire at home Singapore Jalan Bukit Merah fire: PMD battery could have started fatal blaze, says SCDF Singapore askST: What are the fire safety rules for PMDs? Asia AirAsia flight from KL to Incheon lands at wrong airport in South Korea Asia India and China work to improve ties amid Trump's unpredictability Singapore From quiet introvert to self-confident student: How this vulnerable, shy teen gets help to develop and discover her strength "She wasn't giving me much pace. I was trying to play with control but also aggressive. I think I did well. I missed a couple balls. But I learned from it and was able to close it out." The two-time Grand Slam champion will next face another Italian, seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, who swept past Barbora Krejcikova 6-1 6-2 in a rematch of the 2024 Wimbledon final. REUTERS
CNA
6 hours ago
- CNA
Defending champion Sinner storms into Cincinnati semi-finals
Defending champion Jannik Sinner swept past Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-0 6-2 on Thursday to reach the Cincinnati Open semi-finals, with the world number one extending his hardcourt winning streak to 25 matches. Sinner delivered a dominant performance, capitalising on his opponent's 29 unforced errors to claim his first win in three meetings against the Canadian in just 71 minutes. "Today I felt great on court. I think you saw that but every day is going to be different," Sinner said. "Tomorrow is a day off, which is good for me. We will try and put some reps in and then see what I can do in the semis." The Italian became only the fifth man this century to record 25 consecutive victories on the surface alongside Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. He will face either Danish seventh seed Holger Rune or French qualifier Terence Atmane. In the women's draw, second seed Coco Gauff secured her place in the quarter-finals with a 6-2 6-4 win over Italy's Lucia Bronzetti. "For the most part I played aggressive. Maybe got a bit passive in some of those games. But it's tough. The balls are super light and they fly," Gauff said. "She wasn't giving me much pace. I was trying to play with control but also aggressive. I think I did well. I missed a couple balls. But I learned from it and was able to close it out." The two-time Grand Slam champion will next face another Italian, seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, who swept past Barbora Krejcikova 6-1 6-2 in a rematch of the 2024 Wimbledon final.
