Sabalenka Advances to Round of 16 at Cincinnati Open

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka secured her spot in the round of 16 at the Cincinnati Open by defeating Emma Raducanu in a hard-fought match. The final score was 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5) at the P&G Center Court on Monday, keeping her title defense hopes alive.

Sabalenka commenced the match with high intensity, reminiscent of her Wimbledon showing last month. The two athletes engaged in another memorable contest.

The match reached its conclusion following a lengthy game with 13 deuces. The Belarusian player ultimately sealed the victory after being on the court for three hours and nine minutes.

In crucial moments, Sabalenka utilized her powerful serve, succeeding in both tiebreaks. This brings her season total to 18, surpassing all other female singles players in the current professional circuit.

Despite the defeat, Raducanu seems to be regaining her peak form leading up to the US Open later this month, where she claimed the title in 2021.

Notably, the British player accumulated a higher total of points compared to Sabalenka, outscoring her by a narrow margin of 125 to 123.

Following her victory, Sabalenka voiced her delight in seeing Raducanu’s improved health and acknowledged her ongoing progress toward her best performance. She also lauded the British player as a formidable competitor.

“As I mentioned at Wimbledon, I am genuinely pleased to see her in good health, both mentally and physically,” Sabalenka remarked regarding Raducanu.

“She demonstrates continuous improvement, and it’s evident that she is returning to her optimal level. I relish competing against her; she is an exceptional player.”

Sabalenka is scheduled to compete against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain on Wednesday in the round of 16.