Emma Raducanu came within a whisker of upsetting world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping three-hour Cincinnati Open battle, losing 7-6, 4-6, 7-6.
The British star’s momentum stalled in the deciding set when a crying child disrupted play for nearly 10 minutes. Irritated by the ongoing cries, Raducanu halted her service routine to speak with the umpire, eventually sharing a light smile as nearby fans voiced their calls for the child to be taken out.
Later, the 22-year-old was warned for seeking too much mid-match advice from new coach Francis Roig, with loud stadium music making communication difficult.
Despite holding serve after an epic 13-deuce game, Raducanu eventually fell in the final-set tie-break. Commentators hailed it as one of the best matches of her career as she now turns her focus to the US Open starting August 24.
