Cincinnati Open Match Preview: Will Aryna Sabalenka continue her dominance over Emma Raducanu?

The Cincinnati Open serves up a blockbuster matchup as Aryna Sabalenka and Emma Raducanu face off for the third time in their careers. After securing solid wins in their opening rounds, both players advance to the Round of 32 for a highly anticipated rematch, just a month after their last encounter at Wimbledon. Back then, the world No. 1, Sabalenka, emerged victorious in straight sets.

However, the circumstances at SW19 were quite different. Raducanu, playing on home soil and feeling she had a slight advantage on grass, put up a tough fight. This time on hard courts, it’s Sabalenka who holds the edge, especially after a commanding return to form in her debut against Marketa Vondrouosva.

For Raducanu, this is a chance to make a statement. Facing the three-time Grand Slam champion, she'll be looking for a win that continues her climb up the rankings. Raducanu has shown steady improvement over the last few months, and it seems like only a matter of time before she makes a breakthrough that pushes her even higher than her current world No. 39 ranking.

Sabalenka's hard court comeback

After a surprising semifinal loss to Amanda Anisimova at Wimbledon, Aryna Sabalenka opted to skip the Canadian Open to rest and recharge. It was a disappointing end to her Grand Slam season, having also fallen in the finals of the Australian Open and Roland Garros. As the defending champion in Cincinnati, Sabalenka is eager to get back on track in what is her only hard court tournament before the US Open—her ultimate goal for the rest of the season.

The world No. 1 started her campaign with an impressive 7-5, 6-1 victory over Markéta Vondroušová, showcasing her top-tier mental game. She saved a remarkable 12 break points while converting all three of her own opportunities. The match saw 15 total break points, and Sabalenka won every single one of them.

Her upcoming match against Raducanu will be another challenging test. It's the second time in this tournament she'll face a former Grand Slam champion right from the start. "She challenged me in that match," Sabalenka said after her win over Vondrousova. "And I like to accept tough challenges, so I’m super excited facing her on a hard court."

Raducanu's consistency after Wimbledon

Emma Raducanu has found a new level of consistency in her game over the past few months, winning all of her last 10 opening-round matches in WTA tournaments. The last time she lost in a first round was back in March at Indian Wells. This time, she easily defeated Olga Danilović 6-3, 6-2, showing why she's a seeded player in a WTA 1000 event for the first time in three years.

The British No. 1 has made significant progress in the rankings, nearing the top 30. With few points to defend for the rest of the year, she has a great chance to continue her ascent. This positive momentum comes after she recently reached her first WTA 500 semifinal at the DC Open, where she lost to Anna Kalinskaya. Raducanu has a solid 6-2 record since the start of the hardcourt swing.

The 2021 US Open champion knows that Sabalenka is the clear favorite, especially on Cincinnati's center court. She's happy to shift the pressure to her opponent, stating that she has "not much to lose" against the world No. 1.

"It’s like a fact-finding match so you can see where you are in comparison to the top," Raducanu said. "I also think form fluctuates so much on the day, so you can lose 2&1 one day, and you could make it close the next day. It can be down to a few points. I’m excited either way. Aryna is world No. 1, so it’ll be an exciting match and a good experience."

Match Info: Aryna Sabalenka - Emma Raducanu

Start time (local): Mon, 11 Aug, 12:10 PM

Start time (your time): Tue, 12 Aug, 12:10 AM

Court: Center Court

Tournament: Cincinnati Open

Round: Round of 32

Head-to-Head