Richard Pagliaro | Monday, August 11, 2025
Image source: Cincinnati Open Facebook
It was brave in a final battle between the champions.
The world’s number one Aryna Sabalenka Point to drain bravely and boldly at key points Emma Raducanu 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (5) Within three hours, the nine-minute thriller entered the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open.
Considering the hot 90-degree heat with a sultry humidity of 48%, both champions refused to back down – one of the highest quality games we’ve seen this season on the WTA Tour.
Sabalenka showed the highest decisive toughness, rushing into the net violently and reaching out a smooth backhand volley, grabbing the secondary line 6-4 in the third set circuit breaker, grabbing the magnet like metal.
Credit the elastic Raducanu for dragging her tenth Ace onto the T to save the first match point.
Sabalenka swayed and hit, singing center stripes with her eighth ace to end the fascinating epic.
Gravel and determination 😤
Defending champion @Sabalenkaa Confront Raducanu 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (5).#cincytennis pic.twitter.com/cghdnhca1p
– wta (@wta) August 11, 2025
In a deep respect, both Grand Slam champions hugged the internet like boxers, abandoning each other for three hours, while Cincinnati fans paid tribute with a well-deserved standing ovation.
Afterwards, Sabalenka said playing marathons in an oppressive and lively match feels like “aging”.
“I’m very satisfied with that photo [the backhand volley]but I think I just made a pretty brave decision and I think that’s why I won. Sabalenka told Prakash Amritraj of Tennis Channel after. “I kept thinking ‘this is what they call aging’.
“I’m like it’s old. I’m looking at Emma, she’s being pumped, she’s ready to play the next point. I’m like I’m still trying to get back to breathing, like something happened?
“I’m like trying to control my breathing, do those slow exhales and make sure I can breathe properly. I don’t know. I wish I could be there under these conditions and win.”
A fierce battle brought Raducanu up and high, serving in 31 points, 23 minutes and 15 seconds of courage, putting the last inning of the final inning at 4-All, converting her 11th game in a gripping game.
After a daunting task, many players may need to take a breath or sling to serve. Not raducanu.
Sabalenka showed off her net skills, leading the decision makers 6-5 with the volleyball champion, covering Games Nine and 11 in Games Nine and 11. Lacanu forced him to force the finale for the 13th straight game.
Sabalenka’s pressure-packed decisive game is exciting, with his disciplined attitude and discipline, and he now wins in a row in 2025 with a 16 consecutive decisive game win in 18-1. Sabalenka’s 18-game final victory is the WTA Tour’s open-era record.
It was a difficult loss for Raducanu, but she should look up and knows that she has landed the world’s No. 1 place to Sabalenka is rarely forced to visit. Raducanu beat the top seed in a savvy game, saving six of eight breakout points, and despite her nine double breakdowns, you can’t blame the British for their second serve, sitting in the middle of the box for the second time after seeing the Sabalenka Clock Clock Clean Clean Reply win the winner.
Despite her outstanding performance in the extremely high game, Sabalenka’s desire and enthusiasm for the final battle as she raised her 2025 record to the WTA’s best 49-9.
This is Sabalenka’s second straight defeat of the Grand Slam title in a win over Marketa Vondrousova.
The dominant Cincinnati champion Sabalenka will face Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the fourth round. Bouzas Maneiro defeated the world number one earlier today with a 6-4, 6-1 title.
Sabalenka and Raducanu have new voices in the coaching box in Cincinnati.
The 22-year-old Raducanu hired Rafael Nadal’s long-time coach Francisco Roig as her new coach. Roig inherited Mark Petchey, whose commentary commitment to the Tennis Channel prevented him from continuing his successful pairing with Raducanu.
Online, Sabalenka welcomes Belarus’ beast Max Mirnyi to the box for the North American summer hard lineup season. Mirnyi is the owner of seven Grand Slam doubles titles, including the owner of the 2000 U.S. Open with Lleyton Hewitt, and also won the doubles title with Roger Federer and teamed up with Victoria Azarenka to win the 2012 Olympic doubles gold medal.
Mature serve and volleyer Mirnyi must appreciate the way Sabalenka attacks Net in the final stage of today.
In Wimbledon’s final clash, Rakanu took a break in both sets before Sabalenka retreated to a fixed point in the first group of the third round of the 7-6 (6) (6) (6), 6-4.
Today, Raducanu starts with nine consecutive points, including leading four forehand winners 2-0.
Sabalenka saved 12 breakout points after winning the opening victory of former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in Cincinnati, releasing a 4-2 lead in four straight games. Raducanu returned to level after eight games and then denied several rest points, fighting 5-4 in the six-minute game.
Sabalenka abandoned her first love and forced the first set to win.
The pressure of condensation may limit some players in the finals, but Sabalenka is not one of them.
Sabalenka immediately scored a mini break with a 16-1 decisive record this season, tearing off a 92mph forehand to beat the game 3-1, then exploiting Raducanu’s double fault to 4-1.
“Forget it,” Radokanu coach Roig urged from the box.
Continuous ACE cuts Sabalenka’s 5 columns to a 6-1 advantage. Raducanu saved two, including pulling the backhand pass to close to 3-6.
Sabalenka then slammed her fourth ace, sealing a typical 54-minute opening suit.
Collection 1 way to walk Sabalenka ☝️@Sabalenkaa The opening match will be 7-6 (3) against Raducanu.#cincytennis pic.twitter.com/b8l8rfiq3y
– wta (@wta) August 11, 2025
This is Sabalenka’s 15th consecutive deciding victory in 2025’s Brokers to 17-1.
Raducanu embellishes the corners of the box on the box, in line with Sabalenka in the second plate. Raducanu threw the fourth king to help her level in the second set after six games.
Then, the 2021 U.S. Open champion brought her to action.
Raducanu took back a deep reward from the middle of the court and made a backhand mistake at the next point to win the triple breakpoint in Game 7. Sabalenka saved two breakout points to reach 30-40. Raducanu stood in the forehand exchange toe and broke the forehand error 4-3.
The stinging stinging of the stretch box made Lacanu score 5-3 during the break.
When Sabalenka was moving along the line for a long time, the British obtained two fixed points. On the second serve, Raducanu imposed a fifth ace from the field to seal her first set she won from Sabalenka and forced the decision 100 minutes after the game.
We want to decider 🍿@emmaraducanu Cover the second set 6-4 against Sabalenka.#cincytennis pic.twitter.com/dnoor99e5u
– wta (@wta) August 11, 2025
Today’s stuffy condition is “like playing in the oven,” said Felix Auger-Aliassime, Canada.
After a short break, Sabalenka and Raducanu continued to toe in the decider.
The marathon and the breathtaking eighth race, Raducanu won 10 points while Sabalenka created 4 breakout points, but neither could close.
Finally, after 23 minutes and 15 seconds of speed, Raducanu made a serve in the longest single game of his career in Fist and Shouting 4 innings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9c8qy1oizy
Credit Sabalenka swings in an unforgettable decisive game.
I was angry that I didn’t win that win, but she played incredible,” Sabalenka said of the marathon. “The last two races were incredible. I’m like keep pushing, keep pushing.
“In the past, when I didn’t have that experience, I would go crazy [after losing a game like that]. Because I still think about those opportunities that I didn’t use in that game and I could easily lose my serve. This time, I was like it was OK, going through, and moving forward.
“And I’ve been focusing on serving and maybe I might break it because I’m close to rest. So I think I’ve made a lot of progress psychologically. The main thing I’ve always told myself is to keep pushing, keep pushing, keep trying, keep trying.”
Finally, the world number one and Cincinnati fans – won the huge winner as both women exuded a competitive role in depth, making them Grand Slam champions.
“The fun of watching, the fun of playing is not fun,” a laughing Sabalenka told Prakash Amritraj, the game provided the joy of punishment. “I went to shoot, I was praying all the time…
“It was fun afterward.”
