Tennis News: Sinner, Sabalenka Dominate in Cincinnati

Read about the dominant performances of Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka in the Cincinnati Open, as they cruise to wins in the ATP and WTA draws.

“I didn't know what to expect. I'm happy because it's not easy to play here...”

World No. 1s Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka kicked off their Cincinnati Open title defenses with impressive wins, advancing to the third round. Sinner, the reigning Wimbledon men's champion, dominated Colombian qualifier Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1, 6-1 in just 59 minutes, the fastest win of his ATP career. This victory extended Sinner's unbeaten streak on hard courts to 22 matches.

Meanwhile, Sabalenka fought hard to overcome 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, winning 7-5, 6-1. Despite struggling with break points in the second set, Sabalenka's determination paid off, setting up a match against Britain's Emma Raducanu in the next round. Raducanu secured her spot with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Olga Danilovic.

In other notable matches, fourth-seeded Taylor Fritz and seventh-seeded Holger Rune advanced in the men's draw, while eighth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti and eleventh-seeded Casper Ruud were eliminated by French opponents. Ruud's loss came at the hands of Arthur Rinderknech, who won 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-2, capitalizing on Ruud's 34 unforced errors.

 

Sinner and Sabalenka Dominate in Cincinnati

Sinner's Dominant Win

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner crushed Colombian qualifier Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1, 6-1 in the steamy afternoon heat, advancing to the third round of the Cincinnati Open. Sinner's powerful game was on full display as he dominated the match, winning in straight sets.

Sabalenka's Hard-Fought Victory

Aryna Sabalenka, the women's world No. 1, secured a 7-5, 6-1 win over 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the night session. Sabalenka edged the first set with a service break in the final game, sealing it with a stinging winner. She then took control of the second set, winning it convincingly to 1.

The second set was more challenging than the score indicated, with Aryna Sabalenka saving five break points to take a 4-1 lead. She then held off Marketa Vondrousova's late surge, recovering from 0-30 down in the final game to secure the 6-1 win.

Sabalenka praised her opponent, saying, “It's always a tough match against her.” The Belarusian world No. 1 has faced Vondrousova nine times previously, and their latest encounter was no exception, with Sabalenka needing to dig deep to come out on top.

Sabalenka's Hard-Fought Win

Aryna Sabalenka reflected on her tough match against Marketa Vondrousova, saying, “She pushed me to the limit. If you lose focus even a little bit it can cost you a set. I had to fight for every point against her.” Sabalenka's determination paid off, and she advances to face Britain's Emma Raducanu, who defeated Olga Danilovic 6-3, 6-2.

Jannik Sinner dominated 

Colombian qualifier Daniel Elahi Galan, winning 6-1, 6-1 with 17 winners and just four unforced errors. Sinner took control early, winning the opening five games in just 15 minutes, allowing his 144th-ranked opponent little chance to recover. Galan, who came through qualifying, struggled to contain Sinner's powerful game.

Jannik Sinner's 6-1, 6-1 victory over Daniel Elahi Galan was the fastest win of his ATP career, lasting just 59 minutes. This win extended Sinner's unbeaten streak on hard courts to 22 matches, with his last loss coming in the Beijing final against Carlos Alcaraz in September.

Sinner reflected on his return to tournament action, saying, “I didn't know what to expect. I'm happy because it's not easy to play here.” Despite the uncertainty, Sinner's dominant performance showcased his skill and confidence on the court.

“The ball is flying and you have to serve very precise if you want to go far in the tournament.

“Today I was finding my spots but there is still a little room to improve. For a first match it could not have gone better.”

Picking up where he left off! 👏

Defending champion @janniksin races into Round 3 with a straight sets win over Galan#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/aCZoxfuLt4

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 9, 2025

After taking the first set, Jannik Sinner broke Galan to start the second set. Although Galan managed to hold in a grueling seven-minute game, saving five break points, it was a brief respite. Sinner quickly regained momentum, holding for 3-1 with three aces and never looking back, ultimately securing a 6-1, 6-1 victory.

Two top seeds fell to French opponents in the Cincinnati Open. Eighth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti lost to Benjamin Bonzi 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (4), while 11th-seeded Casper Ruud was defeated by Arthur Rinderknech 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-2. Ruud's 34 unforced errors proved costly, as Rinderknech capitalized on his opponent's mistakes to secure the win.

Arthur Rinderknech expressed satisfaction with his Cincinnati debut success, saying, “I stayed aggressive throughout the match. You cannot let Casper start to dictate.” His assertive approach paid off, as he defeated Casper Ruud 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-2.

Rune Advances, Michelsen Next

Seventh-seeded Holger Rune won his opening match 7-5, 7-6 (5) over Roman Safiullin and will face Alex Michelsen next. Michelsen secured his spot with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Corentin Moutet.

Swiatek Advances with Ease

Iga Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, cruised to an opening win over Anastasia Potapova, defeating her 6-1, 6-4. Despite reaching the semifinals in the last two editions, Swiatek has yet to play in a final at the Cincinnati Open, one of the few WTA 1000 tournaments where she hasn't reached the title match.

Round 3 🔜@iga_swiatek defeats Potapova 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the third round.#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/BqrF3nK8R1

— wta (@WTA) August 9, 2025

Iga Swiatek advanced to the third round with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Anastasia Potapova in just 74 minutes. Swiatek saved four of five break points she faced and reflected on her performance, saying, “I wanted to play solid - but intense as well. It was up and down in the second set. But in the important moments I got my level up to close out the win.”

Madison Keys, the Australian Open winner, had a tougher time, defeating Eva Lys 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (1) after saving two match points at 5-6 in the deciding set. The match lasted over two hours, with Keys ultimately emerging victorious.