Emma Raducanu says she’s proud of her performance after narrowly losing to world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling third-round match at the Cincinnati Open.
The 22-year-old Brit lost 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5) in a tough match that lasted over three hours. It comes just a month after Raducanu also gave Sabalenka a tough challenge at Wimbledon.
Last time they met, Sabalenka won in straight sets, but this time the match was much closer.
“She’s world number one for a reason,” Raducanu said after the match. “But I pushed her more than I did at Wimbledon, so that’s an improvement.”
She added, “It feels good to perform like that on a hard court. I’ve always felt more comfortable on grass, but pushing her like this on a different surface makes me proud.”
Raducanu started strongly, winning the first eight points and going up 2-0 early. Even after losing four games in a row, she fought back to force a tiebreak in the first set.
In the second set, she served brilliantly, missing just five of her 28 first serves. She broke Sabalenka’s serve in the seventh game and won the set with a powerful second-serve ace.
The final set was full of drama. Raducanu missed a break point early on but held on during a 23-minute service game, saving four break points in a thrilling battle.
Despite her efforts, Sabalenka came out on top. Raducanu said she learned a lot: “The way she starts points — serving and returning — especially in big moments, was impressive. I did well in parts too, but keeping that level the whole time is something I want to work on.”
Sabalenka praised Raducanu after the match, saying, “I’m happy to see her healthy and playing well again. She’s improving every time we play. She’s a great player and a lovely person. It was a really tough match, and I hope I get a rest day after this one!”
Raducanu is currently ranked 39th in the world and continues to work her way back to top form after past injury troubles.