In a high-octane showdown at the Cincinnati Open, Aryna Sabalenka showcased her trademark power to overcome a spirited challenge from Britain's Emma Raducanu, securing a hard-fought 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory.
The Belarusian second seed, known for her explosive groundstrokes, needed two hours and 23 minutes to quell Raducanu's resurgence after the 2021 US Open champion threatened to stage another famous comeback.
A Battle of Contrasting Styles
The match delivered compelling theatre as Sabalenka's brute force collided with Raducanu's elegant counterpunching. The first set saw Sabalenka's relentless aggression pay dividends, but Raducanu responded magnificently in the second, mixing up her tactics with deft drop shots and angled winners.
Turning Points
The decisive third set turned on a crucial break in the sixth game when Sabalenka capitalised on a rare Raducanu double fault. From there, the world No. 2's experience shone through as she closed out the match with an ace, her 12th of the contest.
"Emma's an incredible player who makes you work for every point," Sabalenka said afterwards. "I had to dig deep today and I'm proud of how I handled the pressure moments."
What's Next?
Sabalenka progresses to face either Ons Jabeur or Marta Kostyuk in the third round as she continues her US Open preparations. For Raducanu, there were encouraging signs despite the defeat as she builds momentum ahead of Flushing Meadows.
