Sabalenka and Rybakina qualified and face each other in the quarterfinals in Cincinnati

Adrien Guyot

le 14/08/2025 à 07h31

2 min to read

Alexandrova Bouzas Maneiro Cincinnati Kalinskaya Keys Rybakina Sabalenka

The favorites held their ground last night at the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati. Following Iga Swiatek's early-day qualification, world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka also advanced to the quarterfinals.

Defending champion in Ohio, the Belarusian, who had eliminated Marketa Vondrousova and Emma Raducanu, continued her winning streak against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. The Spaniard, a quarterfinalist in Montreal last week, could have been a trap for Sabalenka.

More comfortable than against Raducanu, whom she had beaten in the decisive game of the third set, the 27-year-old player was not as challenged this time. With a perfect start to the match, she gave no respite to her opponent on her service games and won all her return games in the first set.

In just 27 minutes, Sabalenka had already secured the first set. The world number 42 then raised her level, offering more resistance to her opponent, but, as often, Sabalenka eventually prevailed.

After a final break at the best possible time, at 6-5, the Australian Open and French Open finalist this year secured her qualification for the quarterfinals (6-1, 7-5) and will meet Elena Rybakina in an exciting matchup.

On her part, the Kazakh overcame Madison Keys. Beaten by the latter at the Australian Open earlier this year, Rybakina, who confirms her rise this season, took her revenge and, after losing the first set, the world number 10 accelerated (6-7, 6-4, 6-2 in 2h28).

She will face Sabalenka, in a classic of recent years in women's tennis. It will be their 12th matchup (Sabalenka currently leads 7-4).

Note that in a highly competitive part of the draw, Swiatek also knows her quarterfinal opponent.

In a 100% Russian duel, Anna Kalinskaya, who came close to defeat, finally edged out her compatriot Ekaterina Alexandrova (4-6, 7-6, 6-1). Although she had never beaten her opponent of the day in five previous meetings, the world number 34 continues her recovery, which began in recent weeks.