Aryna Sabalenka resorts to 'crazy shots' and 'risky' tennis in three-hour win over 'incredible' Emma Raducanu at Cincinnati Open

Aryna Sabalenka retained her 100% record over Emma Raducanu on Monday, but only just. The world No. 1 needed to prevail in two tension-filled tie-breaks to clinch the last-32 encounter at the 2025 Cincinnati Open. And the 27-year-old admitted that she was forced into "crazy shots" to beat the "incredible" Briton after a marathon match that lasted three hours and nine minutes.

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Aryna Sabalenka said she had to resort to playing "crazy shots" and "risky" tennis to secure her third-round win over Emma Raducanu at the Cincinnati Open.

In a repeat of their last-32 meeting at Wimbledon, Sabalenka clinched a nerve-jangling deciding-set tie-break to beat the Brit 7-6(3) 4-6 7-6(5).

Raducanu bowed out by the tightest of margins, with the statistics showing the 22-year-old won 51% of the total points, 53% of the games, and delivered more aces than the world No. 1.

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But Sabalenka was more effective when it mattered most, keeping her tie-break record over Raducanu at 100% with two more hard-fought victories during the contest, which lasted three hours and nine minutes.

"As I said at Wimbledon, I'm really happy to see her healthy, mentally and physically, and oh my God, every time she is improving and I can see that she's getting back," Sabalenka said of Raducanu in her on-court interview.

"I'm enjoying fighting against her. She's such an incredible player, a really nice person and I'm super happy for her.

After a punishing battle in searing heat, Sabalenka said she hoped for a bit of time to recover.

"I'm happy to get through this difficult match, three hours and 10 minutes," Sabalenka said. "I really hope that tomorrow is a day off, otherwise I won't be able to recover after such a great battle."

After a first set littered with four breaks, there was precious little to separate the pair on serve, though Raducanu broke decisively midway through set two.

And the Briton had to save four break points in a gruelling eighth game of the decider, with 26 points being played after deuce was first reached.

This meant that the third set lasted over an hour and a half, and Sabalenka will be pleased to learn her last-16 encounter against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro will take place on Wednesday, August 13.

In the end, though, rather than a superior staying power, the 27-year-old believed it was her "risky" shot selection that eventually gave her the win.

"I think it was all about the momentum, all about the risk in this game, because at the end I went for crazy shots," Sabalenka said. "I think it was a little bit of a risky game from me and it really helped to put a lot of pressure on her."

The pair's battle was not the only aspect of the encounter that appeared closely contested, as Sabalenka found out when she decided to take an impromptu poll of the spectators' allegiances.

"Okay, let me ask you," a smiling Sabalenka addressed the crowd. "You were cheering for Emma, right?"

And after a mixture of cheers and boos, Sabalenka continued: "Let me just hear those who were cheering for me."

After pausing to hear a big cheer, she asked: "And for Emma?"

"It's tied, it's tied," Sabalenka concluded after hearing Center Court's response. "So thank you so much for the atmosphere. It was amazing playing in front of you guys."

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