MusaAryna Sabalenka produced another commanding performance at the Cincinnati Open, defeating Britain’s Emma Raducanu in straight sets and, in doing so, achieving a remarkable tennis milestone that has not been matched in the past 30 years. The Belarusian’s win extended her perfect record against British opponents to a historic level, underlining her dominance in such match-ups.
From the very first game, Sabalenka imposed her trademark brand of aggressive, high-powered tennis. Her booming serves and ferocious groundstrokes forced Raducanu onto the defensive, giving the 2021 US Open champion little room to dictate play. While Raducanu showed flashes of brilliance — particularly with her sharp backhand returns and quick footwork — Sabalenka’s relentless pace kept the pressure constant.
The first set saw Sabalenka race into an early lead, breaking Raducanu’s serve twice and taking it 6-3. In the second set, Raducanu fought to stay within striking distance, but Sabalenka’s precision on the big points made the difference. A decisive break midway through the set sealed the momentum, and Sabalenka closed out the match with a clinical service game, taking it 6-4.
This victory marked Sabalenka’s 15th consecutive win over British opponents, a feat no WTA player has managed in the last three decades. The statistic speaks not only to her consistent quality but also to her ability to adapt to different British playing styles — from Raducanu’s counterpunching skills to more aggressive opponents.
Speaking after the match, Sabalenka expressed quiet pride in the achievement. “Honestly, I don’t go into matches thinking about streaks or records, but it’s nice to be part of a little bit of history,” she said. “Emma is a great player, and I had to stay focused from the first point to the last.”
Raducanu, though disappointed, took positives from the encounter. She noted that she had opportunities to put more pressure on Sabalenka but couldn’t capitalise at key moments. “Aryna plays at such a high tempo, and you have to be ready for every shot,” Raducanu said. “I’ll take the lessons from today and build on them for the rest of the season.”
For Sabalenka, the win adds to her momentum as she sets her sights on a deep run in Cincinnati and a strong push toward the US Open. For Raducanu, it is another step in her return from injury setbacks, with valuable match experience gained against one of the game’s fiercest competitors.
With her historic streak intact and confidence running high, Sabalenka remains a player no one wants to see in their section of the draw.
Musa
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John Owolabi