Aryna Sabalenka continued her dominant run at the Cincinnati Open with a straight-sets victory over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, winning 6-1, 7-5 to advance to the quarterfinals. The match, which lasted just over an hour, showcased Sabalenka’s aggressive style and powerful serve, as she controlled the first set and held off a late surge from her opponent in the second.
A commanding performance on court
Sabalenka wasted no time asserting herself in the match, taking the first set in just 27 minutes. Her serve was particularly effective, winning over 80% of her first-serve points and firing four aces without a single double fault. Bouzas Maneiro struggled to find rhythm early on, and although she raised her level in the second set, Sabalenka’s consistency and pressure proved too much.
The Belarusian converted all three of her break point opportunities in the first set and added two more in the second, while Bouzas Maneiro managed to break Sabalenka’s serve twice but couldn’t maintain momentum. The final scoreline reflected Sabalenka’s control, but also highlighted the Spaniard’s resilience in the latter stages.
A heartfelt message to the fans
After the match, Sabalenka addressed the crowd with her trademark warmth. “People make fun of me that I always say thank you for the atmosphere,” she said with a smile. “But it’s really important. I’ll keep saying thank you every interview. So thank you so much for the atmosphere guys.”
Her appreciation for the fans has become a recurring theme in her post-match interviews, and in Cincinnati, the energy of the crowd clearly resonated with her. Sabalenka’s connection with supporters adds a personal touch to her competitive edge, making her one of the most engaging figures on the WTA Tour.
Looking ahead to a blockbuster quarterfinal
With this win, Sabalenka sets up a highly anticipated quarterfinal clash against Elena Rybakina. The two have faced each other multiple times, with Sabalenka holding a slight edge in their head-to-head record. Rybakina, fresh off a comeback win against Madison Keys, will pose a significant challenge.
Sabalenka enters the match with confidence, having reached her fourth consecutive quarterfinal in Cincinnati and becoming the first player to notch 50 WTA wins in 2025. Her form and focus suggest she’s ready to defend her title, and fans can expect another thrilling encounter as she continues her campaign.
Sabalenka in Cincinnati, ranking, and results in 2025
Now the world no.1, Sabalenka has an overall 50-9 record in 2025. Aryna is competing in Cincinnati where she conquered the world no.59 Marketa Vondrousova 7-5 6-1, the world no.39 Emma Raducanu 7-6(3) 4-6 7-6(5) and the world no.42 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-1 7-5.
Aryna Sabalenka will take on the world no.10 Elena Rybakina in the quarter. Their head to head is 7-4 for Sabalenka.
The Belarussian clinched 3 titles in 2025 in Brisbane, Miami and Madrid. Aryna reached the final at the Australian Open, in Indian Wells (BNP Paribas Open), in Stuttgart (Porsche Tennis Grand Prix) and at the French Open.
Sabalenka won 20 titles in her career: 15 on hard courts, 3 on clay courts and 2 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)