Emma Raducanu walked off the court at the Cincinnati Open on August 11, 2025, with her head held high, despite falling just short in a breathtaking three-hour, nine-minute clash against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The British No. 1, now 22, pushed the reigning US Open champion to the brink in a 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5) third-round defeat, delivering a performance that showcased her resurgence and resilience. “She’s world No. 1 for a reason and I pushed her more than I did at Wimbledon, so that’s an improvement,” Raducanu said, reflecting on a match that saw her go toe-to-toe with one of tennis’s most formidable forces.
Raducanu’s journey to this blockbuster encounter began with a bye in the first round, followed by a commanding victory over Olga Danilovic. Under the guidance of her new coach, Francisco Roig—formerly part of Rafael Nadal’s team—Raducanu has found renewed confidence, climbing back into the world’s top 40 after a challenging few years marked by injuries. Her performance against Sabalenka, the second meeting between the two in 2025 following a gripping Wimbledon third-round clash, was a testament to her growing maturity. “You take the lessons from this,” Raducanu said. “I was able to play some good tennis for patches of the match, but I think it also dropped off for other patches. So I think with work and going on the practice court, I can do it for longer and hold the level high for longer.”
The match was a rollercoaster of momentum swings under Cincinnati’s sweltering 32°C heat. Raducanu started sharply, winning the first nine points and pressuring Sabalenka’s serve early. Her aggressive forehand and improved backhand slice kept the Belarusian guessing, while her serve—landing 82% of first serves in the second set—was a cornerstone of her fightback. A standout moment came in the third set’s eighth game, a 22-minute, 13-deuce marathon where Raducanu saved four break points with clutch aces and steely resolve. “I served and returned really well in certain moments,” she noted, though her occasional lapses, including a double fault in the first-set tiebreak, allowed Sabalenka to seize control.
Sabalenka, despite struggling with 72 unforced errors, proved why she’s the WTA’s dominant force. Her 16th consecutive tiebreak win—an Open-era record—came via nerveless play, including a bold approach to the net in the decisive moments. “She played such incredible tennis and she pushed me really hard,” Sabalenka said, praising Raducanu’s fight. “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.” The Belarusian’s power, with serves reaching 124 mph and 3.5 aces per match on average, tested Raducanu’s defense, but the Brit’s ability to absorb pace and counterattack kept the match tight, with Sabalenka winning just three fewer points overall.
Raducanu’s performance built on her Wimbledon showing, where she led Sabalenka 4-2 in the first set and 4-1 in the second before losing 7-6 (8-6), 6-4. This time, she stretched the world No. 1 further, forcing a third set and coming within points of a career-defining upset. Her resilience was evident as she bounced back from a demoralizing first-set tiebreak loss, breaking Sabalenka in the seventh game of the second set to level the match. Roig’s vocal guidance, occasionally drawing an umpire’s warning for excessive coaching, helped Raducanu stay composed, with instructions focusing on serve placement and forehand shape.
Despite the defeat, Raducanu’s display offers hope for the US Open, where she could be seeded among the top 32 due to injuries to players like Zheng Qinwen and Paula Badosa. Her 13-8 hard-court record in 2025, bolstered by a semifinal run in Washington, contrasts with Sabalenka’s 24-4 dominance on the surface, yet Raducanu’s ability to generate nearly four break points per match shows her growing threat. “I felt pretty good out there for the most part against Aryna, who’s achieved everything she has, so it’s mostly positives,” she said, emphasizing the confidence gained from challenging the elite.
Sabalenka advanced to face Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the fourth round, while Raducanu now sets her sights on Flushing Meadows, where she won as a qualifier in 2021. Her 3-17 record against top-10 players remains a hurdle, but performances like this—described by Sabalenka as “incredible”—signal a player closing the gap. With Roig’s expertise and a renewed sense of belief, Raducanu’s Cincinnati epic is a stepping stone toward reclaiming her place among tennis’s elite, with New York looming as her next chance to shine.
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