Sabalenka Falls to Rybakina at Cincinnati Open

Sabalenka loses in straight sets to Rybakina in the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals.

Sabalenka Falls to Rybakina at Cincinnati Open

Elena Rybakina defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-1 6-4 in the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals on Friday. Rybakina used a powerful serve to seize control early, notching 11 aces and winning 80.6 percent of first-serve points. Sabalenka never found her rhythm and, after a lopsided first set, could not overturn the momentum in the second.
Sabalenka has had a busy year with deep runs in the Australian Open final, the French Open final, and a Wimbledon semifinal, but titles have remained elusive. With this win, Rybakina advances to the semifinals to face Iga Swiatek. The two have met nine times overall, with Swiatek holding a slight edge, though Rybakina has won several recent encounters. The Cincinnati result adds another chapter to their ongoing rivalry and raises questions about Sabalenka's form heading into the next major.

Rybakina pressed Sabalenka from the start, using short points and sharp serving to push the top seed off balance. The early momentum tilted the match in a way Sabalenka has struggled to reverse this season, even as she fights to translate big results into titles. The victory showcases how a single weapon, when precise, can dictate the tempo on a big court.
Beyond the matchup, the result signals a broader trend in the women's game: a group of players can topple the elite when the moment counts. For Sabalenka, the setback is a reminder that the path to major glory is not guaranteed by ranking alone. Her next test against Swiatek will be a crucial gauge of resilience and adaptation as the tour moves toward its late-summer stretch.

Highlights

The coming rounds will test who can convert pressure into titles as the season heats up.