Emma Won the Battle, But Aryna Won the War: Sabalenka Survives Raducanu in Cincinnati Thriller
The third round of the 2025 Cincinnati Open delivered a contest that will live long in tennis memory. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Britainâs Emma Raducanu served up a three-hour, nine-minute spectacle packed with drama, endurance, and mental fortitude. In the end, Sabalenka prevailed 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (5), but not without being pushed to the very brink.
A Tightrope First Set
From the opening game, it was clear this match would be a test of both physical and psychological stamina. Sabalenka came out firing with her trademark power, but Raducanuâs precision and anticipation kept her in every rally. The first set saw no breaks of serve, with both players digging themselves out of trouble repeatedly. The tie-break was the decider, and Sabalenka, riding a 15-match tiebreak winning streak, showed her composure to edge it 7-3.
Raducanu Strikes Back
If the first set was an arm wrestle, the second was a tactical coup for Raducanu. The Briton began reading Sabalenkaâs patterns, redirecting pace, and mixing spins to disrupt the Belarusianâs rhythm. Her serve held firm, and a crucial break in the seventh game gave her the platform to close the set 6-4. The crowd sensed a potential upset as Raducanuâs confidence visibly grew.
The Deciding Set and the 23-Minute Game
The third set was the definition of a battle. Sabalenka regained her aggression, while Raducanu continued to absorb pressure and counter with precision. Then came the moment that will be talked about long after the tournament ends: at 4-3 on Raducanuâs serve, the match turned into a war of wills.
The game lasted a staggering 23 minutes, featured 13 deuces, and saw Raducanu fend off four break points with a combination of brave second serves and clutch groundstrokes. Every rally had the crowd on its feet, with gasps, cheers, and groans in equal measure. When Raducanu finally held serve, it felt like she had won a small battle within the larger war.
But tennis can be cruel. Despite losing that marathon game, Sabalenka refused to let the setback shake her focus.
Sabalenkaâs Mental Steel
What happened next showcased exactly why Sabalenka sits atop the womenâs game. She held her next service game to love, forcing the match into a decisive tie-break. There, she leaned on her heavy serve and flat, penetrating groundstrokes to create early separation. Raducanu fought back to 5-6, saving one match point, but on the second, Sabalenkaâs forehand found the corner to seal victory.
This win extended her remarkable run to 16 consecutive tiebreak victories, a testament to her mental fortitude in high-pressure moments.
The Numbers Tell a Story
While Sabalenka walked off with the win, the statistics highlight just how close the contest truly was:
- Total Points Won: Raducanu 125, Sabalenka 122.
- Unforced Errors: Sabalenka 72, a sign of her all-out attacking style.
- Break Points Saved: Both players saved multiple break points, with Raducanuâs 4/4 in the marathon game being the standout.
These numbers underline the razor-thin margins that separated the two.
Raducanuâs Resilience
For Emma Raducanu, this match may ultimately be remembered more as a moral victory than a defeat. Against the top-ranked player in the world, she not only held her own but also forced Sabalenka into some of her most difficult tennis of the season. Her ability to dig in, especially during that 23-minute game, earned admiration from fans and commentators alike.
Raducanuâs calm under relentless pressureâcombined with her tactical adjustments between setsâsuggests a player whose game is maturing rapidly. While she left Cincinnati without the win, the performance sends a strong signal to the rest of the tour.
Sabalenkaâs Perspective
For Aryna Sabalenka, this match was about survival. âThat was one of the toughest battles Iâve had this year,â she admitted post-match. âEmma played unbelievable tennis. I just had to stay in the moment and keep fighting, even after that crazy game she held.â
Sabalenkaâs ability to rebound immediately after losing such an emotionally charged game is what champions are made of. Itâs the mental separationâshaking off what just happened and focusing on whatâs nextâthat often decides matches at the elite level.
Why This Match Resonated
This wasnât just a third-round clash; it was a reminder of why fans fall in love with tennis:
- The mental chess match within the physical battle.
- The way a single game can become a microcosm of the entire contest.
- The shared respect between competitors who push each other to their limits.
The phrase âEmma won the battle, but Aryna won the warâ captures it perfectly. Raducanuâs hold in that marathon game felt like a triumph, but Sabalenkaâs ultimate victory underscored that in tennis, the war is only won when the final point is played.
Looking Ahead
Sabalenka advances to the quarterfinals, carrying both the confidence of surviving a serious test and the knowledge that she will need to tighten her game to avoid the pitfalls that nearly cost her here. Raducanu, meanwhile, leaves Cincinnati with her head high and her ranking set for a boost, her performance likely to fuel her confidence heading into the US Open.
In the end, this match was a showcase of grit, shot-making, and mental toughnessâqualities that define champions. For Raducanu, it was proof she can go toe-to-toe with the very best. For Sabalenka, it was another chapter in a season defined by refusing to yield.
