World number one Aryna Sabalenka kept her Cincinnati Open title defence alive with a thrilling 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5) victory over Emma Raducanu in a marathon third-round match on Monday. The contest lasted three hours and nine minutes, marking the fourth longest match of Sabalenka’s career and featuring one of the most intense games of the tournament.
The match began with Raducanu storming ahead to win eight straight points, but a double fault on the ninth point shifted momentum in Sabalenka’s favour. The Belarusian then broke back and eventually took the first set in a tight tiebreak, extending her unbeaten record in first-set tiebreaks this year to 11-0.
Raducanu fought back strongly in the second set, breaking serve once to claim the set 6-4—her first set win against Sabalenka in their three career meetings over the past 18 months. The deciding set featured a dramatic eighth game, with 13 deuces and Raducanu saving four break points before finally succumbing to Sabalenka’s powerful serve. The world number one sealed victory with another dominant tiebreak performance, taking her total tiebreak wins in 2025 to a remarkable 18, the highest in a single calendar year in the Open Era.
Despite the loss, Raducanu impressed with her resilience and fight, winning more points overall (125 to Sabalenka’s 122). The Briton, currently coached by Rafael Nadal’s long-time mentor Francisco Roig, showed clear signs of improvement ahead of the US Open later this month. Roig was actively engaged throughout the match, encouraging Raducanu with vocal support and tactical advice.
Sabalenka finished with 46 winners but also committed 72 unforced errors, a testament to the high-pressure intensity of the encounter. Speaking after the match, she said, “Happy to get through this match. I really hope I have a day tomorrow.” She also praised Raducanu’s progress: “I’m really happy to see her healthy. I can see she’s improving.”
Sabalenka will face Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the Round of 16 on Wednesday. Maneiro advanced with a 6-4, 6-1 win over wild card Taylor Townsend.