Thankfully, I have a day of rest waiting for me because I wouldn’t have been able to go through that again," Sabalenka reacts after her win in Cincinnati

After a grueling battle lasting over three hours against Raducanu, Sabalenka had to dig deep to secure her third-round victory in Cincinnati (7-6, 4-6, 7-6). In her post-match interview, the player reflected on her tough duel against the Brit:

"Luckily, I have a day of rest ahead because I wouldn’t have been able to do that again. It was very challenging, and everything came down to momentum and taking risks. I went to the net and played bold shots on the big points to put pressure on her, and it paid off."

As the defending champion in Cincinnati and at the US Open, Sabalenka knows she must manage every ounce of effort if she wants to retain both titles:

"I’m trying to manage my energy better—this is a crucial part of the season coming up. The US Open has always been my favorite Grand Slam, and I love being in this position as the defending champion. I hope the lessons I’ve learned from previous Grand Slams will help me. I aim to reach my best level in New York.