During a grueling three-hour match against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the Cincinnati Open, Emma Raducanu was at the center of a chaotic and prolonged game in the deciding set, where she was audibly distracted by a crying baby in the stands.
The incident occurred during a pivotal eighth game that stretched for 23 minutes and featured a remarkable 13 deuces. As Raducanu struggled to hold serve, she paused before a point and appealed to the umpire about the continuous noise. “It’s been like 10 minutes,” she said.
The umpire responded, “It’s a child. Do you want me to send the child out of the stadium?” Before Raducanu could reply, spectators seated nearby voiced their agreement, shouting “Yeah,” prompting a wry smile from the British player.
Despite the interruption, Raducanu displayed immense resilience. Throughout the marathon game, she repeatedly fought off Sabalenka, saving four break points with a mix of clutch serving and determined rallies. On her 11th game point, she finally secured the hold with a powerful first serve, letting out an emotional roar and a defiant fist pump toward her coach.
Although Sabalenka ultimately won the match, Raducanu’s performance signaled a significant return to form ahead of the US Open. She outscored the world No. 1 in total points won, 125 to 123, underscoring the narrow margin of the contest.
“I’m really happy to see her healthy. I can see she’s improving,” Sabalenka said of Raducanu post-match. “Happy to get through this match.”
Source link
