World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka kept her Cincinnati Open title defense alive after outlasting Emma Raducanu in a thrilling three-hour tennis marathon in the third round. In a match packed with intensity, power, and drama, Sabalenka held her nerve in two tense tie-breaks to claim a 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5) victory.
The US Open champion from Belarus showcased her trademark powerful serve and relentless baseline aggression, clinching her 18th tie-break win of the season the most by any WTA singles player in the Open Era.
Despite the loss, Raducanu looked sharp and determined, signaling strong form ahead of the 2025 US Open at Flushing Meadows, where she famously won her maiden Grand Slam title in 2021.
“I’m really happy to see her healthy again. You can see she’s improving,” Sabalenka said about Raducanu. “I’m just glad I got through this match. Hopefully, I get a rest day tomorrow.”
The battle even featured a gripping 13-deuce game in the deciding set before Sabalenka sealed the win after three hours and nine minutes on court.
Next up, Sabalenka will face Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the round of 16.
Elsewhere at the Western & Southern Open:
Anna Kalinskaya upset fifth seed Amanda Anisimova 7-5, 6-4, earning her third Top-10 victory of the season and setting up a clash with fellow Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Fourth seed Taylor Fritz overcame Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego 7-6(4), 7-5 after a one-hour delay due to a power outage. The American did not face a single break point and converted his lone opportunity to secure the win in just over two hours.
Former champion Madison Keys advanced with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Japan’s Aoi Ito, needing only 20 minutes to close out the second set after a competitive opener.
The Cincinnati Open continues to deliver high-voltage matches as players sharpen their games for the year’s final Grand Slam in New York.
