Aryna Sabalenka, World top-ranked player survived a gruelling three-hour contest on Monday, edging past an inspired Emma Raducanu 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/5) to secure her place in the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open.
The 27-year-old Aryna Sabalenka extended her lead at the top of WTA Tour match-win standings by notching her 49th victory of the season.
Defending champion Sabalenka faced a tough battle but sealed the win with two aces in the final stages.
British number one Emma Raducanu endured a marathon 25-minute eighth game in the final set, She battling through 13 deuces and saving four break points before finally holding serve for 4-all, eventually pushing the match into a tiebreaker stat.
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Sabalenka clinched the victory by firing her sixth ace for a 5-4 lead in the tiebreak. She sealing the match with her seventh ace on her second match point, wrapping up the contest in three hours and nine minutes.
Sabalenka said,
“I am really happy to get through this difficult match, I just hope tomorrow is a day off. I need time to recover from such a great battle. It was all about momentum, I took some risks at the end and it went for crazy shots, went to the net.”
Sabalenka is aiming for her 10th career title at the WTA 1000 level and her second of the season. She already claimed the trophy in Madrid.
Raducanu said,
“I can take lessons from this match, With work and practice I think I can hold my level higher for longer. She is world number one for a reason and had a three-hour match and I felt pretty good out there for the most part.”
Emma Raducanu was called out by the chair umpire for having unauthorised conversations with new Spanish coach Francisco Roig.
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