Aryna Sabalenka fights past Marketa Vondrousova to set up rematch with Emma Raducanu at Cincinnati Open

Aryna Sabalenka survived a tough encounter against Marketa Vondrousova, earning a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 victory to advance to the third round of the Cincinnati Open. The defending champion began her campaign in good form, setting up a thrilling "popcorn" match against former US Open champion Emma Raducanu. This will be a rematch of their Wimbledon meeting just a month ago.

The world No. 1 returned to hard courts with a win against a tricky rival in the 2023 Wimbledon champion Vondrousova, who has fallen in the rankings after nearly three months away from the court. Despite this, Vondrousova showed her talent is intact, giving Sabalenka a great battle but failing to capitalize on key opportunities.

The difference-maker was how they played the crucial points. Sabalenka saved a remarkable 12 break points against her throughout the match, while converting each of the three opportunities her opponent gave her.

The first set was especially tight, with Vondrousova putting Sabalenka under pressure from the start. In the very first game, the world No. 1 had to save three break points while adjusting her serve. Vondrousova, for her part, was more consistent with her own serve than Sabalenka for a good portion of the set.

Both players managed to defend their service games, with Sabalenka saving another break point in the 5th game and two more in the 7th, all while failing to earn any break opportunities of her own. Vondrousova seemed closer and closer to a break, but Sabalenka gradually found her game and started winning more easy points on her serve. The Belarusian was particularly adept at handling pressure, and she got her first break opportunity at 6-5, converting it immediately to take the set 7-5. Her rival had made great efforts to take the lead, but Sabalenka always found a way to come out on top.

The start of the second set seemed to follow the same pattern, with Vondrousova winning her first service game comfortably and continuing to win points on the return. Sabalenka went up 2-1 with difficulty, but Vondrousova failed to sustain her high level, especially on her serve. The Czech gave Sabalenka chances, and the Belarusian took them in the 4th and 6th games.

Sabalenka secured two consecutive breaks and saved a difficult service game that included five break points against her. The world No. 1 did not slow down and won the last five games in a row, saving several break points along the way and capitalizing on her own chances. The efficiency and pedigree of the three-time major champion were key. As the match progressed, it was Sabalenka who managed to keep a cool head. The Belarusian took the victory 7-5, 6-1 and advanced to the third round in Cincinnati.

The tournament's first seed will once again face a Grand Slam champion early in the tournament. This time her opponent will be the 2021 US Open champion, Emma Raducanu, in what will be their reunion one month after facing each other in the Wimbledon third round. On that occasion, Sabalenka won the victory with a score of 7-6, 6-4, in another match that was ultimately decided by her poise in complicated moments and with opportunities for both sides.

Sabalenka now has 19 wins in Cincinnati, making it one of the WTA 1000 tournaments where she has performed best in her career, with a title in 2023 and two semifinal appearances. She only has more main draw victories at the Madrid Open (23), where she has also won the title three times.