Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, delivered a masterclass in resilience at the 2025 Cincinnati Open, outlasting Britain’s Emma Raducanu in a gripping third-round match that stretched over three hours and nine minutes. The Belarusian’s 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5) victory on August 11, 2025, was a testament to her ability to thrive under pressure, even as she admitted the intensity of such battles is far from enjoyable. “It’s fun to watch, not fun to play. I go for the shots and I pray,” Sabalenka said, capturing the high-stakes drama of facing a resurgent Raducanu. The match, played under sweltering 33°C heat at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, showcased Sabalenka’s champion’s mentality as she advanced to the round of 16, setting up a clash with Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
The encounter was a rematch of their Wimbledon 2025 thriller, where Sabalenka edged Raducanu in straight sets. This time, Raducanu, ranked No. 39 and fresh off a coaching change with Francisco Roig, pushed Sabalenka to the limit. “It was very complicated and it was all about momentum and taking risks,” Sabalenka noted, reflecting on her bold strategy of going to the net and unleashing daring shots to seize critical points. The first set was a marathon, with Raducanu holding serve in an epic 23-minute game featuring 13 deuces, saving four break points to keep the score tight. Sabalenka’s power eventually prevailed in the tiebreak, where her precise winners secured a 7-3 edge. “I was just trying to stay focused and put as many balls as I could on her side,” she said, emphasizing her tactic of relentless pressure.
Raducanu roared back in the second set, capitalizing on Sabalenka’s brief dip to level the match at 6-4. The third set was a seesaw battle, with Sabalenka trailing 3-4 before her aggressive play—highlighted by a stunning backhand down the line—shifted the momentum. “Max is happy with my volley, but at the same time, he’s like, ‘That’s too risky,’” Sabalenka laughed, referring to her coach’s mixed feelings about her bold net play. The decisive tiebreak saw Sabalenka’s experience shine, as she outmaneuvered Raducanu with a mix of power and finesse, clinching the match with a perfectly timed drop shot. “I’m super happy to see her healthy and back on track. I’m pretty sure that she will be back in the top 10 soon,” Sabalenka said, praising Raducanu’s tenacity and potential.
The match’s physical toll was evident, with Sabalenka joking about feeling her age compared to the energetic 22-year-old Brit. “Emma was pumped and ready for the next point—and I was still trying to catch my breath,” she quipped, adding, “The whole time I was thinking, ‘This is what they call ageing.’” To recover, Sabalenka relied on a 10-minute cold bath and plans for extra stretching and mobility work. “I never go for crazy amounts of practice during a tournament, but we’ll do some extra recovery, stretching, mobility—just to make sure my ‘old’ body will be ready,” she said, highlighting her focus on preserving energy for the grueling US Open prep.
Sabalenka’s Cincinnati run, following her 2024 US Open title, reinforces her status as the WTA’s dominant force. Her 2025 season, with a 44-11 win-loss record and titles in Australia and New York, has been marred only by a French Open final loss to Coco Gauff, where she struggled with 70 unforced errors. In Cincinnati, her ability to limit mistakes—despite 10 double faults—and execute under pressure was key. Facing Bouzas Maneiro next, who dispatched Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-1, Sabalenka remains a favorite to add another WTA 1000 title. As she navigates the hard courts of Flushing Meadows next, her ability to embrace the chaos of high-stakes matches, as she did against Raducanu, makes her a formidable contender.
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