By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 11, 2025
Picture credit score: Cincinnati Open Fb
In a tiebreak tug of warfare between champions, it’s braveness that counts.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was courageous and daring on pivotal factors out-dueling Emma Raducanu 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5) in a 3 hour, nine-minute thriller to battle into the Cincinnati Open fourth spherical.
Take into account the scorching 90-degree warmth, sweltering 48 p.c humidity—and the actual fact each champions refused to again down—and this was one of many highest-quality matches we’ve seen on the WTA Tour this season.
Displaying supreme tiebreaker toughness, Sabalenka stormed internet and knifed a slick backhand volley that clung to the sideline like steel to a magnet to earn double match level at 6-4 within the third-set breaker.
Credit score a resilient Raducanu for bolting her tenth ace down the T to avoid wasting the primary match level.
Shaking that strike off, Sabalenka singed the middle stripe along with her eighth ace to finish an enthralling epic.
Grit and willpower 😤
Defending champion @SabalenkaA battles it out to win 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5) in opposition to Raducanu.#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/cghDnHca1P
— wta (@WTA) August 11, 2025
In a present of deep mutual respect, each Grand Slam champions embraced at internet like boxers who had thrown haymakers at one another for 3 hours whereas Cincinnati followers saluted the pair with a well-deserved standing ovation.
Afterward, Sabalenka mentioned enjoying the marathon match in oppressive warmth felt like “getting older.”
“I used to be fairly pleased with that shot [the backhand volley], however I believe I simply went for fairly courageous choices and I believe that’s why I acquired the win,” Sabalenka advised Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj afterward. “The entire time I’ve been pondering ‘that is what they name getting older.’
“I used to be like that is the way it feels to be previous. I checked out Emma and she or he was appreciated pumped, she was able to play the following level. And I used to be like nonetheless making an attempt to get well my breath and I used to be like what’s occurring?…
“I used to be identical to making an attempt to regulate my breathe, do these gradual exhales and ensure I can breathe regular. I don’t know. I hoped I might be capable to keep there in these circumstances and get the win.”
A fierce battle noticed Raducanu stand up and stand tall on serve in a gutsy 31-point, 23 minute 15-second maintain to degree the ultimate set at 4-all by changing her eleventh sport level in a gripping sport.
Many gamers may need wanted a breather or a sling for his or her serving arm after that arduous job. Not Raducanu.
Displaying her internet abilities, Sabalenka sealed the ninth and eleventh video games with volley winners to go up 6-5 within the decider. Raducanu responded along with her thirteenth consecutive maintain of the match to power the tiebreaker.
Stress-packed tiebreakers provoke deep want and self-discipline in Sabalenka, who has now gained 16 consecutive tiebreakers enhancing to a stellar 18-1 in 2025 tiebreakers. Sabalenka’s 18 tiebreaker victories are an Open Period document on the WTA Tour.
It’s a gut-wrenching loss for Raducanu, however she ought to maintain her head excessive figuring out she pushed the world No. 1 to locations Sabalenka isn’t pressured to go to. Serving shrewdly, Raducanu out-aced the highest seed, saved six of eight break factors and although she dedicated 9 double faults you possibly can’t fault the Briton for going after her second serve after seeing Sabalenka clock clear return winners on second serves sitting close to the center of the field.
Regardless of enjoying in excessive warmth, Sabalenka appeared keen and enthusiastic for the final-set battle as she raised her 2025 document to a WTA-best 49-9.
It was Sabalenka’s second straight win over a Slam champion following her opening win over Marketa Vondrousova.
The reigning Cincinnati champion Sabalenka will face Jessica Bouzas Maneiro within the fourth spherical. Bouzas Maneiro was a 6-4, 6-1 winner over doubles world No. 1 Taylor Townsend earlier at present.
Each Sabalenka and Raducanu have new voices of their teaching containers in Cincinnati.
The 22-year-old Raducanu has employed Rafael Nadal’s longtime former coach, Francisco Roig as her new coach. Roig succeeds Mark Petchey, whose commentary commitments with Tennis Channel prevented him from persevering with what was a profitable pairing with Raducanu.
Throughout the web, Sabalenka welcomes The Beast of Belarus, Max Mirnyi, to her field for the North American summer time hard-court season. The proprietor of seven Grand Slam doubles champions, together with the 2000 US Open with Lleyton Hewitt, Mirnyi additionally gained doubles titles with Roger Federer and partnered Victoria Azarenka to the 2012 Olympic doubles gold medal for Belarus.
Achieved serve-and-volleyer Mirnyi needed to recognize the best way Sabalenka attacked internet and volleyed within the ultimate levels at present.
Of their final conflict at Wimbledon, Raducanu was up a break in each units earlier than Sabalenka surged again saving a set level within the first set of a 7-6(6), 6-4 third-round win at The Championships.
In the present day, Raducanu rolled by way of 9 factors in a row initially, together with firing 4 forehand winners, for a 2-0 lead.
Sabalenka, who saved 12 break factors in her Cincinnati opening-round win over former Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova, unleashed heavy hitting to forge by way of 4 straight video games for a 4-2 lead. Raducanu broke again to degree after eight video games then denied a few break factors battling by way of a six-minute maintain for 5-4.
Throwing down her past love maintain of the set, Sabalenka pressured the first-set tiebreaker.
Condensed stress can limit some gamers in a tiebreaker, however Sabalenka isn’t one in every of them.
Armed with a 16-1 tiebreaker document this season, Sabalenka instantly scored the mini break, ripped a 92 mph forehand strike down the road for 3-1 then exploited a Raducanu double fault for 4-1.
“Overlook about it,” Raducanu’s coach Roig urged from the field.
Slashing successive aces introduced Sabalenka 5 set factors at 6-1. Raducanu saved two, together with rifling a backhand cross to shut to 3-6.
Then Sabalenka slammed her fourth ace to seal a decent 54-minute opening set in model.
Set 1 goes Sabalenka’s means ☝️@SabalenkaA takes the opener 7-6(3) in opposition to Raducanu.#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/b8L8RFIQ3Y
— wta (@WTA) August 11, 2025
It was Sabalenka’s fifteenth straight tiebreaker victory as she improved to 17-1 in breakers in 2025.
Dotting the corners of the field on serve, Raducanu stayed consistent with Sabalenka all through the second set. Raducanu rolled her fourth ace to assist her degree the second set after six video games.
Then the 2021 US Open champion made her transfer.
Ripping a deep return proper by way of the center of the court docket, Raducanu drew a backhand error on the following level to earn triple break level within the seventh sport. Sabalenka saved two break factors closing to 30-40. Standing toe-toe-toe with the No. 1 in a forehand change, Raducanu drew the forehand error breaking for 4-3.
Stinging serving to stretch the field helped Raducanu again up the break for 5-3.
When Sabalenka steered a backhand down the road lengthy, the Briton gained double set level. On a second serve, Raducanu scalded her fifth ace off the sideline to seal the primary set she’d gained from Sabalenka and power a decider after 100 steamy minutes of play.
We’re heading to a decider 🍿@EmmaRaducanu seals the second set 6-4 in opposition to Sabalenka.#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/dNooR99e5U
— wta (@WTA) August 11, 2025
Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime mentioned at present’s sweltering circumstances was “like enjoying in an oven.”
After a quick break, Sabalenka and Raducanu continued going toe-to-toe within the decider.
That marathon and engrossing eighth sport so Raducanu earned 10 sport factors and Sabalenka create 4 break factors, however neither might shut.
Lastly, after 23 minutes and 15 seconds, Raducanu despatched a serve down the T holding maybe the longest single sport of her profession with a fist and a shout for 4-all.
Credit score Sabalenka for shaking that off and coming again robust in a memorable tiebreaker.
I used to be so aggravated I didn’t win that one, however she performed unbelievable,” Sabalenka mentioned of the marathon sport. “Final two serves have been unbelievable from her. I used to be like preserve pushing, preserve pushing.
“Earlier than, after I wasn’t that skilled, I might go loopy [after losing a game like that]. As a result of I might nonetheless be fascinated with these alternatives that I didn’t use in that sport and I simply lose my serve. This time, I used to be like okay, it’s up to now, transfer on.
“And I used to be specializing in my serve and I used to be like possibly within the subsequent one I’ll be capable to break as a result of I used to be getting near the break. So I believe mentally I improved so much. The principle factor I saved telling myself was preserve pushing, preserve pushing, preserve making an attempt.”
Ultimately, the world No. 1—and Cincinnati followers—have been huge winners as each ladies dug deep exuding the aggressive character that make them Grand Slam champions.
“Enjoyable to observe, not enjoyable to play,” a laughing Sabalenka advised Prakash Amritraj of a match that supplied punishing pleasure. “I am going for the photographs and I pray on a regular basis…
“It’s enjoyable afterwards.”
