CINCINNATI
World number one Aryna Sabalenka needed six match points to subdue Talia Gibson on Sunday and join reigning Grand Slam champions Elena Rybakina and Mirra Andreeva in the third round of the Cincinnati Masters.
Australia’s Gibson saved five match points in the 12th game of the second set before Sabalenka came through in the tiebreaker, managing a final winner to get the job done 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) in just under two hours on a windswept Grandstand Court.
“I’m super tired, this is crazy weather,” Sabalenka 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 won Cincinnati in 2024 and is hoping for a deep run to carry her into the US Open, where she’ll be seeking her first Grand Slam title of the year. The Belarusian has won three titles in 2026, but none since Miami in March.
