Defending champions Sabalenka, Sinner cruise through Cincinnati second round
Sabalenka, who had a first-round bye, had not played since her semi-final defeat at Wimbledon and said the downtime served her well as she mounted a tremendous defensive effort to set up a meeting with Briton Emma Raducanu.
'I played so many matches this season so I'm quite experienced to handle those key moments,' Sabalenka told Tennis Channel. 'Key for me is always to go for it without doubting my decisions. So far it's been working really well.'
Raducanu made easy work of Serbian Olga Danilovic 6-3 6-2 in her first match under new coach Francisco Roig, after a handful of confidence-building performances this summer that included a trip to the semi-finals at the Washington Open.
'I'm really building some momentum. I'm really happy with how I've stayed pretty consistent over the last few months,' said Raducanu, who lost to Sabalenka in a
third-round thriller at Wimbledon this year.
'I still feel like there's a long way to go but just working hard behind the scenes, putting a lot of hours in and hoping I can trust in that.'
Italy's Sinner, who also took a break following his Wimbledon win, was in pristine form as he produced just four unforced errors to swat aside Galan in 59 minutes earlier in the day.
He will next play Canadian Gabriel Diallo.
'It's very difficult to play here, I feel like the ball is flying, it's very fast,' said Sinner.
'So when you lose confidence with a couple of shots, it makes it very, very difficult to play.'
Poland's third seed Iga Swiatek was back on top form after an early exit in Montreal as she sprinted through the first set and fended off four break points in the second to beat Anastasia Potapova comfortably 6-1 6-4.
She next plays Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, who she has defeated in all three previous meetings, in the third round of the U.S. Open tune-up tournament.
Australian Open winner Madison Keys had a tougher opening to her Cincinnati campaign, saving two match points to survive against German Eva Lys with a 1-6 6-3 7-6(1) win to punch her ticket to the third round where she will play Japan's Aoi Ito.
'I just kept trying to listen to everyone here cheering me,' said American Keys, who triumphed in 2019 and clinched Saturday's affair with an unreturnable forehand. 'It helped me get back into the match and across the finish line.'
Earlier on Saturday, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech upset Norwegian 11th seed Casper Ruud 6-7(5) 6-4 6-2, while eighth-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti lost to France's Benjamin Bonzi 5-7 6-4 7-6(4).
Fourth seed Taylor Fritz sent over a dozen aces to close out the day's programme on Center Court with a routine 6-4 6-4 win over American compatriot Emilio Nava and book a meeting with Italian Lorenzo Sonego.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
13 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Carlos Alcaraz battles as Shelton, Zverev race into Cincinnati third round
CINCINNATI: Carlos Alcaraz fought through a second-set slump to post a 'rollercoaster' 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 victory over Damir Dzumhur in his opening match Sunday at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open. The Spaniard, playing his first tournament since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final, raced through the first set but completely lost his way in the second, dropping his serve twice against the 33-year-old Bosnian. Alcaraz regained his intensity and cut down his errors in the third as a seventh ace took him to a match point that was converted when Dzumhur fired wide. 'It was just a rollercoaster,' said the second seed, who was winning his 12th straight match at the Masters 1000 level after taking the titles in Monte Carlo and Rome. 'Lots of good feelings, bad feelings, back to the good ones. I am happy to get the win at the end. I know that I have chances to do better.' Alcaraz committed 44 unforced errors and said conditions in Cincinnati, where he was runner-up in 2023, were always tricky. 'The ball flies a lot, goes super fast,' he said. 'You have to be ready to be in a good position for each shot and that is really difficult to do.' Third seed Alexander Zverev found things more straightforward, winning 6-3, 6-3 against US wild card Nishesh Basavareddy in the night session. Zverev needed just 66 minutes to get past Basavareddy, a 20-year-old ranked 109th in the world. The German put 41 of his 50 first serves in play and didn't face a break point. Basavareddy saved one match point with a blistering service return but Zverev secured the win with his 12th ace. American Ben Shelton, coming off his first Masters 1000 title in Toronto, eased through 6-3, 3-1 when Camilo Ugo Carabelli retired with a knee injury. Shelton's early night was a boon after a draining Toronto tournament which only ended on Thursday night. 'It's not easy to play a couple of days after winning any title,' Shelton said. 'I feel for Camilo and it's obviously not the way that you want to go through. I hope that he has a quick recovery.' Asked about the tape on his own right thigh, Shelton said he has 'a few muscle things' going on. 'The legs take a lot of force,' he said. Sixth seed Alex de Minaur of Australia, the Washington champion, lost to American Reilly Opelka 7-6 (8/6), 6-4. But another Australian, Adam Walton, secured a first top-50 win of his career with a 6-7 (0/7), 6-4, 6-1 upset of former world number one and 2019 Cincy champion Daniil Medvedev of Russia. Gauff battles through In the women's draw, French Open champion Coco Gauff battled through a tough first set to beat China's Wang Xinyu 6-3, 6-2. Gauff, who lifted the trophy in Cincinnati in 2023 and went on to claim her first Grand Slam title at the US Open that year, had to grind her way through the first set. But the number two seed steadied in the second to run out the winner in 71 minutes. 'It was a rough start,' Gauff said. 'But it was about just trusting myself and the work we've done in practice.' Third seed Jessica Pegula, runner-up last year to Aryna Sabalenka, defeated Kimberly Birrell 6-4, 6-3. Seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, finalist last season at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, also advanced, beating Maria Sakkari of Greece 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/5).
Express Tribune
20 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Amorim hails Sesko's 'great potential'
New Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko has all the attributes needed to help bolster their attack, manager Ruben Amorim said as he hopes to unlock the 22-year-old Slovenian's full potential after his big-money move to Old Trafford. Sesko completed his 76.5-million-euro ($89-million) switch from German side RB Leipzig to United on Saturday, with a further 8.5 million euros in bonuses. He signed a contract until 2030 to complete a new-look front three alongside fellow close-season signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. The Slovenia international, capped 41 times, scored 39 goals in 87 appearances across all competitions for Leipzig. "He has the characteristics that we needed," Amorim told MUTV on Saturday. "Ben is a player — with all the information that we have — that we need to stop the guy from working, not the opposite! "So that is also important. He's really young. He's good in the air, he's good at running the channels, good on the ball. I think he has great potential. I think he can improve a lot and, for sure, he is going to feel at home in our club. "He has the right character to be in this group, so I'm really happy to have him." Sesko was introduced at Old Trafford before Saturday's friendly match against Italian side Fiorentina, which United won 5-4 on penalties after drawing 1-1. "He is going to notice, since the first day and first training, that he is in the right place," Amorim added. "He is going to a new building (at Carrington), that is also important. Things are getting better but, in the end, we need to win games." United, who have spent around 200 million pounds ($270 million) following their 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season - their lowest in the top flight in 51 years - begin their new league campaign at home against Arsenal on August 17.
Express Tribune
20 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Sinner, Sabalenka make winning starts in Cincy
Jannik Sinner returns a shot against Daniel Elahi Galan during the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. PHOTO: AARON DOSTER/REUTERS Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka got their title defenses off to smooth starts as they powered into the third round of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Saturday. The men's and women's top seeds, each ranked number one in the world, were both competing for the first time since Wimbledon — where Sinner lifted the title and as Sabalenka bowed out in the women's semi-finals. Sinner crushed Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1, 6-1 in steamy afternoon weather while Sabalenka beat 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 6-1 under the lights of the night session. Sabalenka needed 54 minutes and a service break in the final game to clinch the opening set with a stinging winner. The second set was more of a grind than the score suggested as she saved five break points for a 4-1 lead and recovered from 0-30 down in the final game before securing the win. "It's always a tough match against her," Sabalenka said of the Czech opponent she has faced nine times. "She pushed me to the limit. If you lose focus even a little bit it can cost you a set. I had to fight for every point against her," added Sabalenka, who next faces Britain's Emma Raducanu, a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Olga Danilovic. Meanwhile Sinner outclassed Colombia's Galan with 17 winners and just four unforced errors. Sinner won the opening five games in 15 minutes as he allowed his 144th-ranked opponent, who came through qualifying, little breathing room. The victory in 59 minutes was the fastest of Sinner's ATP career, beating his previous quickest by one minute. Sinner claimed his 22nd consecutive win on hardcourt, last losing the Beijing final in September to rival Carlos Alcaraz. "I didn't know what to expect," Sinner said of his return to tournament action. "I'm happy because it's not easy to play here. "The ball is flying and you have to serve very precise if you want to go far in the tournament. "Today I was finding my spots but there is still a little room to improve. For a first match it could not have gone better." After snapping up the first set Sinner broke to start the second before Galan clawed out a hold in a seven-minute game in which he fought off five break points. But it was only a momentary reprieve. Sinner fired three aces to hold for 3-1 as he roared away again for the victory. Fourth-seeded American Taylor Fritz eased past qualifier Emlilio Nava 6-4, 6-4 and seventh-seeded Holger Rune won his opener 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) over Russian Roman Safiullin. But eighth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti and 11th-seeded Casper Ruud bowed out to French opponents. Benjamin Bonzi defeated Musetti 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) while Artur Rinderknech beat Ruud 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-2 — taking full advantage of Ruud's 34 unforced errors. Rinderknech was pleased with his success so far at his Cincinnati debut. "I stayed aggressive throughout the match," he said. "You cannot let Casper start to dictate." In other women's action, reigning Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek earned an efficient opening win over Anastasia Potapova 6-1, 6-4. Poland's Swiatek has reached the final four at the last two editions but Cincinnati remains one of the two 1000-level tournaments — along with Canada — where she has never played a final. The third seed moved into the third round in just 74 minutes, saving four of the five break points she faced. "I wanted to play solid — but intense as well," Swiatek said. "It was up and down in the second set. But in the important moments I got my level up to close out the win." Australian Open winner Madison Keys needed more than two hours to advance with a 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) over German Eva Lys, saving two match points at 5-6 in the deciding set.
