Emma Raducanu Makes Feelings Clear on Aryna Sabalenka’s ‘Raw’ Threat Looming at Cincinnati Open
Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion and world No. 38, shared her candid thoughts on facing world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round of the 2025 Cincinnati Open, describing her as a “raw” and formidable opponent. Speaking to Tennis Channel after her 6-3, 6-2 second-round thrashing of Olga Danilović on August 9, 2025, Raducanu said, “Aryna’s just so raw, her power is unreal. It’s a massive challenge, but I’m excited to test myself against the best. I know where I stand on grass, but hard courts are my surface, so let’s see,” per the-express.com. The match, set for Monday, August 11, at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, follows Sabalenka’s 7-5, 6-1 win over Markéta Vondroušová, where her backhand and 12/12 break-point saves showcased her dominance, per wtatennis.com.
Raducanu, under new coach Francisco Roig, is riding a hot streak, with a 6-2 North American hard-court record and a 23-16 2025 season, including wins over Jessica Pegula and Maria Sakkari, per tennisuptodate.com. Her Cincinnati performance—seven aces and 73% second-serve points won against Danilović—signals growing confidence, but Sabalenka poses a daunting challenge. Their previous encounter at Wimbledon 2025 was a tight 7-6(6), 6-4 loss for Raducanu, marred by a controversial line call, which she later criticized, saying, “That call was for sure out… Hopefully they can fix that,” per express.co.uk. Sabalenka, with a 2-0 head-to-head lead, dismissed Raducanu’s concerns, emphasizing preparation, per wtatennis.com.
Raducanu’s comments reflect cautious optimism, acknowledging Sabalenka’s “raw” power—evidenced by her 34-10 record and 2025 US Open title—while banking on her own hard-court prowess, per tennis365.com. Posts on X, like @TennisFanatic22, praise Raducanu’s mindset: “Emma’s ready to fight, calling Sabalenka ‘raw’ shows she respects but isn’t scared.” A win could earn 215 points, boosting her chances for a US Open top-32 seed, per Tennis Majors. With her mixed doubles partnership with Carlos Alcaraz looming, Raducanu’s focus on testing herself against Sabalenka’s “unreal” strength underlines her ambition to reclaim elite status.
