Emma Raducanu Requests Crying Child Removal During Cincinnati Open Loss to Sabalenka

During a tense third-round match at the Cincinnati Open, British tennis star Emma Raducanu confronted a crying child in the stands that disrupted her focus amid a crucial stage of the deciding set against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Raducanu paused her serve and requested the umpire to eject the child, leading to a brief but heated exchange, with the umpire questioning whether to remove the child and some fans vocally supporting Raducanu's request. Despite the disruption and a marathon service game that tested her endurance, Raducanu held serve but ultimately lost a close three-hour match in a final tiebreak. Throughout the match, Raducanu relied heavily on her new coach Francisco Roig's tactical advice and encouragement to counter Sabalenka's powerful game. Sabalenka continued her dominant tie-break record to secure a 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 victory, advancing to the fourth round, while Raducanu looks to build momentum for the upcoming US Open, the Grand Slam she won as a teenager in 2021. The incident highlighted both the challenges players face with external distractions and Raducanu's resilience and potential resurgence after a challenging period with injuries.