(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Emma Raducanu’s Cincinnati Match Interrupted by Crying Child – Leads to Lighthearted Moment
British tennis star Emma Raducanu had a memorable and amusing moment during her marathon match against Aryna Sabalenka in Cincinnati.
While preparing to serve at 3-4, 40/40 in the third set, Raducanu became distracted by the persistent sound of a child crying in the stands. Frustrated, she mentioned to the chair umpire, “It’s been like 10 minutes.”
The umpire, understanding her point, responded with a playful question: “It’s a child, do you want me to send the child out of the stadium?”
Raducanu, taken aback, chuckled and shrugged. However, some fans shouted “yes” from the crowd, adding to the lighthearted atmosphere. The umpire clarified that any action could only be taken after the ongoing game concluded.
When play resumed, Raducanu fought hard, saving four break points to win a long eighth game. The match eventually went to a tie-break, where Sabalenka held her nerve and secured victory 7-6 in the decider.
A win for Raducanu would have marked her first career victory over a World No. 1 player.
Karen Khachanov Reaches 200 ATP Hard-Court Wins
Elsewhere in Cincinnati, Karen Khachanov achieved a major career milestone. The Russian star earned his 200th ATP victory on hard courts with a 6-4, 7-6 win over Valentin Royer in the second round.
Khachanov is now the tenth player born in 1990 or later to join the exclusive “Club 200,” alongside Grigor Dimitrov, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Milos Raonic, Andrey Rublev, David Goffin, Taylor Fritz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Alex de Minaur.
Coming off a runner-up finish at the Canada Masters, Khachanov showed determination in a closely contested match, sealing the win in just under two hours.
