Sabalenka Wins Marathon Match Over Raducanu at Cincinnati Open

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka narrowly defeated 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu in a grueling three-hour and nine-minute third-round match at the Cincinnati Open, winning 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5). The match featured an epic 13-deuce game lasting 23 minutes in the third set and showcased Sabalenka's strength in tiebreaks, extending her 2025 record to 18-1 and a 16-match tiebreak winning streak. Despite Raducanu winning more total points and aces, Sabalenka's powerful serve and net play secured her two crucial tiebreak victories. Raducanu, who recently added Rafael Nadal's former coach Francis Roig to her team, showed resilience and improved form, pushing Sabalenka to the limits in extreme heat and humidity. Both players earned mutual respect after the intense battle, with Sabalenka moving on to face Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the fourth round. The match was widely praised as one of the highest-quality women's tennis contests of the season.