Sabalenka Edges Past Raducanu After a Massive Battle

Aryna Sabalenka and Emma Raducanu delivered one of the tournament's standout matches in the women's draw for the Cincinnati crowd.

The world No. 1 and defending Ohio champion faced Emma Raducanu just weeks after their intense Wimbledon clash. While their grass-court duel had already been fiercely contested, this encounter on American soil was even tighter.

After a grueling 3-hour, 9-minute battle, Sabalenka finally raised her arms in victory, winning 7-6, 4-6, 7-6. The two players traded blows throughout, but the Belarusian’s experience proved decisive in both tiebreaks, which she claimed 7-3 and 7-5 respectively.

Though tested, Sabalenka remained rock-solid in the crucial moments and now advances to the round of 16, where she will face Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. This will mark their fifth meeting of the season.

Raducanu, coached by Francisco Roig, showed promising signs in this match—a performance she’ll look to build on at the US Open.