Aryna Sabalenka’s Take on Emma Raducanu After Surviving Massive Scare in 3-set Battle in Cincinnati

Aryna Sabalenka has improved her head-to-head record over Emma Raducanu to 3-0 after their Cincinnati Masters clash.

Aryna Sabalenka’s Take on Emma Raducanu After Surviving Massive Scare in 3-set Battle in Cincinnati

Aryna Sabalenka, Emma Raducanu (Image via X/Aryna Sabalenka Archive, @HaileeBishh)

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Emma Raducanu, for the first time in her career, won a set against Aryna Sabalenka. In a closely contested battle that lasted for three hours and nine minutes in the third round of the Cincinnati Masters, the Brit took the second set off her to push the match into the decider.

With a 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5) win, Sabalenka has inched closer to her fourth title of this season. It was Sabalenka’s fourth-longest match of her career. This season, she lost a tie-break out of the 19 she has played just once- the best on the WTA Tour in a calendar year in the Open Era. After the match, the Belarusian was all praise for the 22-year-old.

As I said at Wimbledon, I am really happy to see her healthy. Mentally, physically, and every time, she is improving! I am happy to see it.

Sabalenka now holds a 3-0 head-to-head lead over the 2021 US Open champion. Prior to Cincy, they met in the third round of Wimbledon, which Sabalenka won in straight sets before she reached the semifinals and lost the match in three sets to eventual runner-up Amanda Anisimova.

I enjoy playing against her. She’s such an incredible player, really nice person, and I’m super happy for her and, of course, happy to get through this difficult match. Three hours 10 minutes, I really hope tomorrow is a day off, otherwise I will not be able to recover after such a great battle.

Aryna Sabalenka added

Raducanu made her second appearance in Cincinnati (after 2022), and her run once again ended in the third round. She still hasn’t reached a final since winning that US Open. In WTA 1000 events, Raducanu has produced her best when she reached the quarterfinals of this year’s Miami Open, losing that match to eventual runner-up Jessica Pegula.

Aryna Sabalenka on what helped her beat Emma Raducanu

Aryna Sabalenka, following her match against Emma Raducanu, sat for an interview with Tennis Channel. She talked about what she unleashed against Raducanu that she has been practicing with her new coach, Max Mirnyi.

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/Roland Garros)

I think I was brave enough to come to the net and go first and go for some risky shots, which I have been working on in the last couple of weeks. Max is very happy with my volleys. I mean, he’s happy, but at the same time, he’s like, ‘That is too risky!’.

Sabalenka is bidding to defend her title. Last year, she beat home favorite Jessica Pegula, who also lost when they met in the US Open final. In Cincy, the three-time Grand Slam champion is also chasing her 10th WTA 1000 title. Two of these titles she lifted this year at the Miami Open and the Madrid Open.

Aryna Sabalenka to play Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the fourth round

Sabalenka has now scheduled a fourth-round clash with Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, against whom she holds a 1-0 head-to-head record. They met in the second round of this year’s Australian Open, which the 27-year-old won in straight sets before she reached the final and lost in three sets to Madison Keys.

Aryna Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Maneiro beat Taylor Townsend, Leylah Fernandez, and Venus Williams before setting up the match against the first seed. Before this tournament, the Spaniard had not progressed beyond the second round in WTA 1000 events. She has made her second appearance in Cincinnati after last year. Her run ended in the second round.

If Sabalenka wins the tournament, she will become the first woman to defend the title after 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams (2014-2015). The only WTA 1000 title that Sabalenka has defended is the Wuhan Open (2018-2019).

Also read: Daniil Medvedev Makes Alarming ‘Confidence’ Remarks After Crisis Deepens at Cincinnati Open