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Aryna Tiebreakalenka! Sabalenka breaks two tiebreak records in win over Raducanu in Cincy

The world No. 1 has now won her last 16 breakers in a row after a grueling 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (5) victory over the Brit.

By John Berkok
HIGHLIGHTS: Aryna Sabalenka survives Emma Raducanu in third-set tiebreaker | 2025 Cincinnati 3R3:55

Aryna Sabalenka broke not one, but TWO tie-break records during her third-round win over Emma Raducanu in Cincinnati on Monday.

She battled to a 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (5) victory after three hours and nine minutes on court, highlighted by a grueling 23-minute, 13-deuce eighth game of the third set, which the Brit ended up winning.

But with her two tie-break wins, Sabalenka rewrote history twice.

First of all, those were the 17th and 18th tie-breaks she’s won this year, breaking the record for most tie-breaks won by a woman in a single season in the Open Era. The world No. 1 had been tied with three other women for that record, at 16, going into the match on Monday.

MOST TIE-BREAKS WON BY A WOMAN IN A SINGLE SEASON IN THE OPEN ERA (tour-level):

  • 18: Aryna Sabalenka (2025)
  • 16: Billie Jean King (1971)
  • 16: Wendy Turnbull (1978)
  • 16: Elena Rybakina (2023)
MASON, OHIO - AUGUST 11: Aryna Sabalenka is congratulated by Emma Raducanu of Great Britain after match during the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 11, 2025 in Mason, Ohio. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
© 2032 Getty images

Second of all, Sabalenka has now won her last 16 tie-breaks in a row, breaking the record for most tie-breaks won in a row by a woman in the Open Era (at tour-level). She had been tied with Sloane Stephens for the previous record of 14—the American won that many in a row between Roland Garros in 2015 and Wimbledon in 2016.

Sabalenka is now 18-1 overall in tie-breaks this year.

ARYNA SABALENKA'S TIE-BREAK RECORD IN 2025: 18-1

  • d. Putintseva in Brisbane 3rd Rd, 7-6 (2), 6-4
  • d. Tauson in Australian Open 3rd Rd, 7-6 (5), 6-4
  • l. to Alexandrova in Doha 2nd Rd, 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (5)
  • d. Kessler in Indian Wells 2nd Rd, 7-6 (4), 6-3
  • d. Kostyuk in Madrid QFs, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7)
  • d. Gauff in Madrid F, 6-3, 7-6 (3)
  • d. Kostyuk in Rome 4th Rd, 6-1, 7-6 (8)
  • d. Zheng in Roland Garros QFs, 7-6 (3), 6-3
  • d. Swiatek in Roland Garros SFs, 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-0
  • l. to Gauff in Roland Garros F, 7-6 (5), 2-6, 4-6
  • d. Masarova in Berlin 2nd Rd, 6-2, 7-6 (6)
  • d. Rybakina in Berlin QFs, 7-6 (6), 3-6, 7-6 (6)
  • d. Bouzkova in Wimbledon 2nd Rd, 7-6 (4), 6-4
  • d. Raducanu in Wimbledon 3rd Rd, 7-6 (6), 6-4
  • d. Mertens in Wimbledon 4th Rd, 6-4, 7-6 (4)
  • d. Raducanu in Cincinnati 3rd Rd, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (5)