Top seed Aryna Sabalenka edged past Emma Raducanu in a gruelling three-hour battle to book her place in the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open.
The defending champion prevailed 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5) to secure her 49th win of the season and set up a clash with Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
Raducanu pushed Sabalenka to the limit, forcing a final-set tiebreak after saving multiple break points in a marathon eighth game.
But the Australian Open champion held her nerve, sealing victory with her seventh ace of the match.
Elsewhere, former champion Madison Keys eased past Japan’s Aoi Ito 6-4, 6-0, while ninth seed Elena Rybakina recovered from a slow start to defeat Elise Mertens 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya upset fifth seed Amanda Anisimova 7-5, 6-4 and will face compatriot Ekaterina Alexandrova, who beat Maya Joint 6-4, 6-3.
Sorana Cirstea outlasted Yuan Yue in three sets to earn a meeting with third seed Iga Swiatek, while Bouzas Maneiro advanced past Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-1.
