(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Aryna Sabalenka Survives Thrilling Win Over Emma Raducanu at Cincinnati Open
CINCINNATI — World number one Aryna Sabalenka survived a dramatic three-hour battle against Britain’s Emma Raducanu in the Cincinnati Open, keeping her title defence alive with a 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5) victory on Monday.
The match featured two tense tiebreaks and a 13-deuce game in the third set, showcasing incredible power, grit, and endurance. Sabalenka’s powerful serve proved decisive, helping her claim her 18th tiebreak win of the season, the most by any women’s singles player in the professional era. Despite the loss, Raducanu won more points overall, 125–123, signaling she’s regaining her top form ahead of the US Open at Flushing Meadows.
Sabalenka praised her opponent, saying, “I’m really happy to see her healthy. I can see she’s improving.” The Belarusian will next face Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the last 16.
In other notable matches, Anna Kalinskaya stunned fifth seed Amanda Anisimova 7-5, 6-4 and will meet fellow Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova in the next round.
Fourth seed Taylor Fritz defeated Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego 7-6(4), 7-5 after a brief one-hour delay caused by a power outage, winning in two hours and eight minutes without facing a break point.
Former champion Madison Keys booked her spot in the last 16 with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Japan’s Aoi Ito, storming through the second set in just 20 minutes. Keys said, “Once I got a break early in the second, I wanted to run away with it and keep that momentum, and I did.”
