In a match that gripped the Cincinnati Open crowd on August 11, 2025, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka battled through a whirlwind of errors to secure a dramatic 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5) victory over Emma Raducanu in the third round. The three-hour, nine-minute epic at the Lindner Family Tennis Center was a rollercoaster, with Sabalenka’s staggering 72 unforced errors drawing stunned reactions, including from Rennae Stubbs, Serena Williams’ former coach. “Seventy-two unforced errors in a three-set match! I’m so confused how she won that,” Stubbs exclaimed on her podcast, capturing the disbelief that rippled through the tennis world. Yet, Sabalenka’s resilience and bold shot-making under pressure propelled her to the fourth round, showcasing why she remains a formidable force as the US Open looms.
The match, played under sweltering 32°C heat with high humidity, tested both players’ endurance. Sabalenka, the defending Cincinnati champion, started shakily, dropping the first eight points to Raducanu’s aggressive play. But the Belarusian found her rhythm, unleashing back-to-back aces to clinch the first set in a tiebreak. Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, roared back in the second, capitalizing on Sabalenka’s erratic groundstrokes to break at 3-3 and seal the set with a second-serve ace. The third set was a marathon, featuring a 23-minute, 13-deuce game at 3-4, where Raducanu held serve under pressure. Sabalenka, however, turned the tide in the decisive tiebreak with a daring backhand volley, a shot she credited to her new doubles specialist coach, Max Mirnyi. “At the end, I went for crazy shots,” Sabalenka said post-match. “It was a little bit risky from me and it really helped to put a lot of pressure on her.”
Sabalenka’s 72 unforced errors—compared to Raducanu’s 41—painted a picture of a player teetering on the edge. Her 49 winners, including 12 aces, highlighted her aggressive style, but the error count raised eyebrows. “She’s world No. 1 for a reason, and I pushed her more than I did at Wimbledon, so that’s an improvement,” Raducanu reflected, referencing their July clash where Sabalenka won 7-6(6), 6-4. The Brit’s resilience was evident, but Sabalenka’s experience shone in the clutch, extending her record to 16 consecutive tiebreak wins, unmatched in the Open Era. “I’m happy to get through this difficult match,” Sabalenka said, admitting exhaustion. “I just hope tomorrow is a day off, otherwise I won’t be able to recover after such a great battle.”
Stubbs’ confusion echoed across social media, where fans marveled at Sabalenka’s ability to win despite her mistakes. “72 unforced errors and still beating a player like Raducanu? That’s insane mental strength,” one user posted. Others noted her growth, recalling her past struggles with composure. “Before, when I wasn’t as experienced, I would have gone crazy after missing those chances and probably lost my serve right away,” Sabalenka admitted, crediting her focus on breathing techniques for keeping her grounded. Her work with Mirnyi, a former doubles No. 1, has added new dimensions, evident in her net play, which produced eight volley winners against Raducanu.
Sabalenka’s 2025 season has been a juggernaut, with 49 wins leading the WTA and titles in Australia and the US Open (2024). Her Cincinnati run, following a final loss to Jessica Pegula last year, positions her as a favorite to repeat. She now faces Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the fourth round, with a potential quarter-final against Pegula or Elina Svitolina looming. Despite the error count, Sabalenka’s 87% first-serve win rate and 4-2 break-point conversion rate against Raducanu underscored her ability to seize critical moments. “The whole time I was thinking, ‘This is what they call ageing,’” she joked, acknowledging the physical toll of the match at 27.
For Raducanu, the loss was a step forward. Under new coach Francisco Roig, she showed tactical maturity, mixing serve speeds and landing 82% of first serves in the second set. “I was able to play some good tennis for patches of the match, but I think it also dropped off for other patches,” she said, vowing to sustain her level longer. As Sabalenka prepares for New York, where she’s the reigning champion, her ability to win through chaos—72 errors and all—proves her mental fortitude. Stubbs may be confused, but Sabalenka’s blend of power, risk, and resolve makes her a thrilling enigma, ready to dominate the hard courts once more.
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