Sabalenka squeezes out a win on 6th match point in Cincinnati; Rybakina, Andreeva also make third round

CINCINNATI – World No. 1 and top seed Aryna Sabalenka needed six match points to subdue Talia Gibson on Aug 16 and join reigning Grand Slam champions Elena Rybakina and Mirra Andreeva in the third round of the Cincinnati Masters.

Australia’s Gibson, 22, saved five match points in the 12th game of the second set before Sabalenka came through in the tiebreak, managing a final winner to go through 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) in just under two hours on a windswept Grandstand Court.

“I’m super tired, this is crazy weather,” the Belarusian, 28, said. “Talia played great tennis and was more aggressive in the second set.

“She put more pressure on my service games. I’m glad I stayed calm and pulled it out in straight sets.”

Sabalenka, who won the Cincinnati trophy in 2024, is looking for a solid build-up to the US Open, where the four-time Major winner will be seeking her first Grand Slam title of the year.

She has won three titles in 2026, but none since Miami in March.

She advanced along with Australian Open winner Rybakina and Roland Garros champion Andreeva, who powered on in convincing style.

Kazakhstani second seed Rybakina, coming off a runner-up finish to Iga Swiatek in Toronto, defeated Taylor Townsend 6-3, 6-4.

Russia’s Andreeva, 19, crushed Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova with the loss of just one game, breaking five times and saving all seven break points against her own serve in a 65-minute 6-1, 6-0 rout.

Rybakina said that she is focusing on recovery after a tough Toronto run and was glad to get off to a low-stress start.

“Today, I’m happy with the serve,” said the 27-year-old. “Definitely it helped me a lot. Last week in Toronto was very difficult. A lot of three-set matches.”

Seventh seed Swiatek, the defending champion who is coming off her first title of the season in Toronto, hammered Emiliana Arango of Colombia 6-3, 6-0.

“It was necessary to get to know the court,” Swiatek said. “I’m happy I was patient. I came out for the second set knowing what I needed to improve. Things went pretty smoothly after that.”

She now plays Greek Maria Sakkari, whom she beat at Indian Wells in March.

“She’s a really experienced player and tough competitor,” Swiatek said. “It will be tough.”

Sara Bejlek continued her rampage against fellow Czechs as she defeated Barbora Krejcikova 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 having beaten former champion Karolina Pliskova in the first round.

US hope Coco Gauff, 22, had to work harder for a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory over 43rd-ranked Russian Liudmila Samsonova.

But fellow American Ben Shelton – up to sixth in the world rankings after his Montreal Masters triumph last week – was sent packing by 79th-ranked Jaime Faria of Portugal.

They headlined an evening session that proved tricky as blustery conditions gave way to brief rain that halted both matches for just under half an hour.

After notching his first win against a top-10 player, the 23-year-old Faria said: “It’s a very emotional moment for me and my team, and to do it here in front of an amazing crowd and against the home player at night and at an amazing venue just makes it a little more special.”

Men’s second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, 26, was aiming to kick-start his US Open preparations after pulling out of his home Montreal Masters with back pain.

The Canadian, playing for the first time since a five-set quarter-final loss to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon, defeated 2022 Cincy finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-5.

Auger-Aliassime looked fully recovered as he throttled Tsitsipas in 88 minutes, breaking the 49th-ranked Greek three times in the second set and firing his seventh ace on match point.

The Canadian said that a late break of his serve could be blamed partly on conditions.

“It got really windy, it was pushing against me. I felt like I had no power in my serve.

“It was a tricky ending, but luckily, I was able to get the break back. I was able to come back and serve it out better, with the wind this time.

“For someone who hasn’t played since Wimbledon, (coming back has) been tough health-wise. But I’m happy to be back with a win like this, it’s great.”

US sixth seed Taylor Fritz smashed a racket in anger just five minutes into his match with compatriot Alex Michelsen but recovered his poise in the swirling winds to earn a 6-3, 6-4 win.

Joao Fonseca had enthusiastic Brazilian support on a minor show court as he defeated Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-6 (7-2).

Fourth-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev opened his campaign with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Argentinian Marco Trungelliti.

The 2019 Cincinnati champion earned his 100th Masters 1000 win and his 32nd of this season. He trailed 2-5 in the second set, but won the last five games.

Aussie Chris O’Connell punched his third-round ticket when 11th-seeded Norwegian Casper Ruud retired from their match. O’Connell had won the first set 7-5 and was down 1-2 when Ruud withdrew. AFP