Burgers, Fearlessness, and Straight Sets: Aryna Sabalenka serves up latest Cincinnati Open win and her favourite cheat meal

Aryna Sabalenka’s post-match routine at the 2025 Cincinnati Open wasn’t quite finished after she defeated Jessica Bouzas Maniero 6-1, 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals. First came more practice, then media duties, and finally — a confession about her ultimate weakness: the humble cheeseburger.

“Some of my cheat meals are full on,” Sabalenka smiled to Prakash Amritraj for Tennis Channel. “It’s hamburgers, pizza, gummies — a lot of different things in one day. If it’s a cheat meal, you’ve got to go full, you know? But hamburgers, that’s my weakness.”

Asked to describe the perfect one, the world No. 2 gave an answer as precise as her serve: “It has to be cheesy, soft, with really good meat, and hot. The bun has to be… kind of melting with the cheese and everything. Simple smashed — that’s my style.”

The burger talk came after a performance that showed Sabalenka’s sharpness from the very first game. With delays and tricky conditions to manage, she made the most of an opponent’s slow start. “She didn’t start well, and I used my opportunity,” Sabalenka explained. “I put so much pressure on her, so it was really tough for her to come back in the first set. Then she found her rhythm a little bit better, and it was a tough fight in the second set. I’m really happy I was able to close this match in straight sets — I didn’t want to be there for another three hours.”

Spectators also noticed an early surprise in her game: a touch of serve-and-volley. It’s a tactic she’s growing increasingly comfortable with. “I have to say that I feel really comfortable approaching the net,” she said. “But sometimes I make… okay, not smart decisions there. Still, I feel confident at the net. I’m hoping that by the end of the week, I’ll improve those stats and be much better there.”

Sabalenka says she’s never been afraid to experiment during matches. “The best way to practise something is to practise under pressure,” she explained. “It’s really tough — you have to be fearless in some way — but I feel like I have to do that if I want to be better. I’m confident on court to try something new every time.”

That fearlessness is something she hopes will keep pushing her game higher as she moves deeper into the tournament. “Each match has something to improve,” she said. “In each match, something works better than something else. With every match, we’re definitely moving in the right direction. I want to think so, anyway.”

Her next opponent, Elena Rybakina, is one she knows extremely well. “It’s going to be a really aggressive match — two big servers,” Sabalenka said. “We’ve played a lot of great battles in the past and I always enjoy playing against her. Another great match, another great opportunity to work on something new to improve my tennis. I’m excited to face her in the quarterfinals.”

Before that, recovery is the priority in Cincinnati’s humid conditions. “Stay hydrated, guys, especially when it’s super hot,” she advised. “Actually, I have to go into my ice bath and then treatment. I didn’t want to say it, but at my age, recovery is key.” She laughed off the suggestion that she’s not young anymore, but kept the message clear: “Recovery is really important, guys.”