In a heart-pounding third-round encounter at the Cincinnati Open, World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka emerged victorious against Emma Raducanu, clinching a thrilling win that stretched over three grueling hours of tennis. The top-ranked player showed remarkable composure in two intense tiebreaks, securing a 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5) triumph over Raducanu in a match that captivated audiences on Monday.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Taylor Fritz cruised into the next round with a straight-sets victory over Lorenzo Sonego.
Sabalenka and Raducanu, who had previously clashed in the third round at Wimbledon last month, delivered yet another monumental showdown. The match featured a mesmerizing 13-deuce game in the deciding set before the Belarusian sealed her hard-fought win after three hours and nine minutes of high-stakes tennis.
Relying on her powerful serve, Sabalenka held her ground in crucial moments, capturing two tiebreaks to bring her tally to an astonishing 18 for the season—a record-breaking achievement for any women's singles player in the professional era.
Despite the loss, Raducanu appears to be regaining her form at just the right time ahead of this month's US Open at Flushing Meadows, where she triumphed in 2021. The Briton actually outpointed Sabalenka, 125-123, in a testament to her improving game.
"I'm thrilled to see her healthy and improving," said Sabalenka of Raducanu. "I'm glad to have pulled through this match. I really hope I get a rest day tomorrow."
Next up for Sabalenka is a clash against Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the round of 16.
Elsewhere, Anna Kalinskaya pulled off a stunning upset against American fifth seed Amanda Anisimova, prevailing 7-5, 6-4. This marked her third win against a Top 10 opponent this season. She will face fellow Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova in the next round.
After a one-hour delay due to a power outage, fourth seed Taylor Fritz dispatched Italy's Sonego 7-6(4), 7-5. The 27-year-old American was imperious, not facing a single break point and capitalizing on his sole break chance to seal the win in two hours and eight minutes.
Former champion Madison Keys also booked her spot in the last 16 with a dominant 6-4, 6-0 victory over Japan's Aoi Ito. After edging a tight first set, Keys stormed through the second in just 20 minutes.
"In the first set, I got off to a good start but lost my way a bit," said sixth seed Keys. "Once I got the break early in the second, I wanted to run away with it and maintain that momentum, which I did."
