Emma Raducanu Falls to Aryna Sabalenka in Cincinnati
Emma Raducanu was eliminated from the Cincinnati Open after a close match in the third round against world number one, Aryna Sabalenka. This match marked the second time both players faced each other this year, after Sabalenka emerged victorious in their third-round match at Wimbledon. The match on Monday, filled with excitement, extended for more than three hours, with Raducanu taking the 27-year-old player to a tiebreaker in the third set. In a tense final, Sabalenka prevailed with a score of 7-6, 4-6, 7-6.“As I said at Wimbledon, I am happy to see her healthy, mentally and physically. She is improving every time and I can see that she is getting back to her best level. I enjoy fighting against her, she is an incredible player,” Sabalenka commented on Raducanu.
Aryna Sabalenka
Sabalenka seemed to be in control of the match, breaking Raducanu’s serve again and winning four games in a row. However, Raducanu managed to tie it at 4-4 and showed her strength by winning the ninth game after a long deuce.
A hard-fought match led Sabalenka to a tiebreak, where she withstood the strong opposition from the Brit to secure the first set in under an hour. The second set continued to be disputed, with both players holding their serve in the early stages. Raducanu managed to change the course by winning a break point in the seventh game and taking the lead. The Brit closed the set in style, with an ace to tie the match. The third set was very even, both players held their serve. The eighth game was incredible, with 13 deuces and Sabalenka unable to convert four break points before Raducanu finally won the game. For the second time in the match, the set went to a tiebreak and, with her second match point, Sabalenka advanced to the next round. The world number one will face Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the round of 16, after the Spaniard defeated Taylor Townsend on Monday.
