Sabalenka shows champion's character and survives against the new (and improved) Raducanu

Carlos Navarro | 11 Aug 2025 | 21.32

Aryna Sabalenka. Source: Getty

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The WTA Cincinnati 2025 had reserved for us one of the matches of the year between Aryna Sabalenka and Emma Raducanu. Perhaps not for the tennis level, at times somewhat irregular, but for the excitement, tension, duration, and crucial moments in a match that lasted over three hours, featuring a game with 13 deuces and extending to the final tiebreak... where, of course, the determination of a number one who proves to be unyielding in these situations emerged (7-6, 4-6, 7-6).

The memory of the last confrontation between two of the biggest draws in the women's tour lingered. A match at Wimbledon where Emma competed head-to-head with the Belarusian, especially in the first set, but lacked cunning and momentum in tense moments to truly materialize her threat. Interestingly, the first set followed a similar script: Raducanu competing toe-to-toe and performing like the best, maintaining similar percentages in almost all areas compared to her opponent... and yet, succumbing in a tiebreak where her serve completely deserted her. Was it a never-ending story?

RADUCANU, SHOWING GRIT TO TURN THE MATCH INTO A THRILLER

It wouldn't be the same this time. The script changed due to the strikes and energy of a Raducanu who did not despair mentally and kept fighting to level the match. The encouragement and advice from Francis Roig left an impact and filled the British player with positive energy, leading her to improve her serving performances and capitalize on Sabalenka's moments of inconsistency. Despite receiving a warning, Francis did not lower his enthusiasm levels, and his pupil, influenced and spurred on by that renewed confidence, pushed the accelerator to put us in front of an exciting third set.

And that third set did not disappoint, not at all. The serve-return battle became crucial in a true boxing match. Aryna's roars pierced the air, but Emma kept her composure and combined precision in her serves with grit in several exchanges to hold on to the match. She did so even when pushed to the limit, in an endless game, being 3-4 down, where she managed to hold her serve after 13 deuces! It was a sign that Sabalenka was beginning to put much more pressure on the return, with extra power in her shots and perhaps a bit more in the physical tank, but also that the personality of the new Raducanu is starting to emerge, that of a fighter for whom it's not enough to just send opponents to the canvas.

Two points away from victory was Sabalenka, but the prevailing tension led her to commit numerous unforced errors. Raducanu held on until the third set tiebreak, more fragile but less erratic, withstanding the Belarusian's assaults and capitalizing on her mistakes. And there, in the sudden death, emerged the version of the tigress from Minsk who has already won 18 tiebreaks and lost only one in 2025: numerous first serves, two very aggressive points on the return to gain two minibreaks, and nerves of steel that took her to the finish line.

Sabalenka survived against a Raducanu who can truly be satisfied with her performances in recent weeks: her game is much less erratic, her physicality endured a battle of over three hours, and she has proven to herself that she has more than enough potential to compete against the best. However, the sting remains against a world number one who, despite not finding her most consistent form, has enough flashes to disarm any rising player. That's how good she is... and she will continue to show it in Cincinnati, where she already awaits Jessica Bouzas in the round of 16.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sabalenka saca casta de campeona y sobrevive a la nueva (y mejorada) Raducanu