Power outage chaos in Cincinnati sees Steely Sinner making progress
In a thrilling display of resilience and skill, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka claimed victory over British number one Emma Raducanu in a three-hour long match at the latest WTA event. The defending champion faced a tough challenge against a Canadian ranked 35th, but emerged triumphant with a score of 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/5).
Sabalenka, who is bidding for her 10th trophy at the 1000 level and her second this season after winning at Madrid, showed her determination and grit throughout the match. She squeezed out victory with a sixth ace for 5-4 in the breaker and delivered her seventh on her second match point. The Belarusian closed the match with two aces in the closing stages.
Meanwhile, American wild card Taylor Townsend was ousted by Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who won 6-4, 6-1. The match was not without its challenges, as both players had to deal with flickering LED screens courtside.
In another exciting encounter, US fourth seed Taylor Fritz defeated Lorenzo Sonego in two sets. The pair continued the match without the electronic line-calling system, which was briefly stopped due to a failure.
Australian Open champion Madison Keys lost just four games in defeating Japan's Aoi Ito, setting herself up for a potential clash with Sabalenka. However, the focus will first be on Bouzas Maneiro, who will face Sabalenka on Wednesday in the next round.
Elsewhere, Frances Tiafoe advanced past Ugo Humbert of France in straight sets, while Italian Jannik Sinner recovered from an early break down in the match to win in under two hours. Sinner, who marked his 23rd consecutive hardcourt win, sent an ace on match point after saving a set point in the tiebreaker. Despite having 49 unforced errors in the first set, Sinner demonstrated his prowess in the latter stages of the match.
British number one Emma Raducanu, who survived a 25-minute eighth game of the final set, which went to 13 deuces, will be looking to bounce back in her next match. Despite the challenges faced during the match, there have been no credible reports or evidence from recent sources indicating that players faced challenges such as power outages, electronic system failures, or distractions during the latest hardcourt tennis tournament, including the 2025 US Open or other recent North American hardcourt events.
Sabalenka's success extends beyond tennis, as she also demonstratesBusiness acumen with her sponsorship deals in the sports industry, particularly with major tennis brands. Meanwhile, sponsorship opportunities could arise for Jessica Bouzas Maneiro following her victory over Taylor Townsend, potentially attracting sports brands interested in backing emerging talent.
