Emma Raducanu’s third-round match at the 2025 Cincinnati Open was a rollercoaster of emotions, marked by intense tennis, a surprising confrontation over a crying baby, and a heated exchange with the umpire over her new coach’s vocal support. Facing world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping three-set battle, the 22-year-old British star showcased her resilience and talent, only to be caught in a whirlwind of distractions and rule-breaking accusations. Despite the 7-6 (6-2), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5) defeat, Raducanu’s performance, coupled with the off-court drama, made headlines and highlighted her evolving partnership with her new coach, Francisco Roig.
The match, played under the blazing Cincinnati sun on August 11, 2025, was a rematch of Raducanu’s Wimbledon clash with Sabalenka earlier that year. From the outset, Raducanu showed she could match the top seed’s power, breaking Sabalenka’s serve early and holding her own in a tightly contested first set. The atmosphere was electric, with Raducanu’s new coach, Francisco Roig, a former mentor to Rafael Nadal, offering near-constant encouragement from the stands. “You have to be brave and calm,” Roig urged during a critical moment in the first set, as Raducanu fought to steady her game after a shaky service hold. His words, amplified by a courtside microphone, resonated with fans, one of whom posted on X, “Raducanu getting a warning from the chair umpire about coaching from the sidelines. He doesn’t shut up! But it seems to be working so.”
However, Roig’s vocal presence led to a flashpoint in the first set when Raducanu, leading 5-4, jogged to the baseline to confer with him during a changeover. The chair umpire swiftly intervened, issuing a stern warning: “Emma, you cannot actively approach him, and he cannot leave his position. You cannot have a conversation.” Raducanu, visibly surprised, responded, “I can’t hear anything because the music is really loud,” explaining her need to approach Roig. The umpire was unmoved, insisting, “Then he needs to speak louder, but you cannot actively go towards him, especially at the end of a game.” Raducanu apologized, saying, “Okay, sorry, I didn’t know that,” and asked for a referee to relay the message to Roig. The incident, a breach of the WTA’s 2025 on-court coaching rules, which allow verbal communication only when the player and coach are at the same end of the court and require it to be brief and discreet, sparked debate among fans and commentators.
The drama escalated in the third set during an epic 23-minute eighth game, where Raducanu faced 13 deuces and saved four break points to hold serve. As she prepared to serve, a crying baby in the stands disrupted her focus. Frustrated, Raducanu paused and addressed the umpire, saying, “It’s been like 10 minutes.” The umpire’s response was blunt: “It’s a child. Do you want me to kick the child out of the stadium?” Some spectators shouted “yes” in jest, prompting a wry smile from Raducanu as she toweled off perspired shoulders and refocused. The moment, captured by Sky Sports, went viral, with fans praising her composure under pressure. “Emma Raducanu holds her service game against Aryna Sabalenka to force a thrilling conclusion in Cincinnati!” one post exclaimed, highlighting the intensity of the match.
Despite the distractions, Raducanu’s performance was a testament to her growing maturity. She outscored Sabalenka 125-123 in total points, a statistic that underscored her competitiveness. “I’m really happy to see her healthy. I can see she’s improving,” Sabalenka said post-match, acknowledging Raducanu’s progress. Roig’s influence was evident, with his tactical advice—such as “go to the body” and “go wide”—directly contributing to key points. “I’m working on the quality of my shots to be better,” Raducanu had said earlier, reflecting on her new coach’s focus on technical precision. His encouragement, like “You are better than her” during the second-set break, fueled her fightback, as she clinched the set with a blazing ace.
Raducanu’s Cincinnati run, which began with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Olga Danilovic, earned her 65 ranking points and $32,840 in prize money, pushing her career earnings to $5,337,073. Though she fell to No. 35 in the WTA Live Rankings, her performance signaled a resurgence after a challenging post-US Open career. Roig, her eighth coach since 2021, brings a wealth of experience from his 18-year tenure with Nadal. “I’m excited to have him on board, so much experience,” Raducanu said, optimistic about their partnership. As she heads to the US Open unseeded, the Cincinnati drama—complete with a crying baby, a vocal coach, and a rules controversy—has only heightened anticipation for her next chapter.
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