Sabalenka breezes through as Medvedev loses cool in defeat
BBC Sport
BBC Sport
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World number one Aryna Sabalenka breezed through to the Cincinnati Open fourth round in just 54 minutes with a dominant victory. In a contrasting result, fourth seed Daniil Medvedev squandered three match points and lost his composure in a surprising defeat to Brandon Nakashima.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka needed just 54 minutes to reach the Cincinnati Open fourth round - but Daniil Medvedev could not hide his frustration after missing three match points in a surprise defeat.
Sabalenka did not face a break point in a 6-1 6-3 win over China's Wang Xinyu.
The Belarusian lost only six points in eight service games and committed just five unforced errors to 17 winners in a composed performance.
It was Sabalenka's easiest win for some time following her fourth-round Wimbledon exit and an early loss in Canada last week.
"To get this win in under an hour [is] an insane result and I'm so happy to be through," the 28-year-old said.
"I think I really trusted myself and I was going for my shots without overthinking.
"That was the weapon of tonight's match."
Sabalenka is the two-time defending champion at the US Open, which begins on Sunday, 30 August.
No woman since Serena Williams in 2014 has won the New York title three times in a row.
Sabalenka's position as world number one is also under threat from Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina.
Four-time major singles champion Sabalenka had a 354-point gap over Rybakina going into Cincinnati.
Rybakina must reach the final to have a chance at surpassing Sabalenka. If Sabalenka reaches the quarter-finals, Rybakina would need to win the title to become world number one.
Sabalenka will face Czech Sara Bejlek for a place in the last eight.
Earlier, fourth seed Medvedev lost his cool after squandering a match-winning position against Brandon Nakashima.
The Russian had fought back from 5-2 down in the first set to take it on a tie-break and had three match points on the American's serve at 5-4 in the second.
However, Nakashima saved them and won a subsequent tie-break - then ran away with the third set to win 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-1.
Medvedev hurled his racquet at the electronic boards at the back of the court - briefly breaking it - after missing the match points.
He also kicked the screen and knocked over several microphones after committing 51 unforced errors in a poor display.
"Down match points, I was just trying to tell myself to keep fighting for every point," Nakashima said.
"I'm super happy with the level in the third."
Sabalenka did not face a break point in a 6-1 6-3 win over China's Wang Xinyu.
The Belarusian lost only six points in eight service games and committed just five unforced errors to 17 winners in a composed performance.
It was Sabalenka's easiest win for some time following her fourth-round Wimbledon exit and an early loss in Canada last week.
"To get this win in under an hour [is] an insane result and I'm so happy to be through," the 28-year-old said.
"I think I really trusted myself and I was going for my shots without overthinking.
"That was the weapon of tonight's match."
Sabalenka is the two-time defending champion at the US Open, which begins on Sunday, 30 August.
No woman since Serena Williams in 2014 has won the New York title three times in a row.
Sabalenka's position as world number one is also under threat from Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina.
Four-time major singles champion Sabalenka had a 354-point gap over Rybakina going into Cincinnati.
Rybakina must reach the final to have a chance at surpassing Sabalenka. If Sabalenka reaches the quarter-finals, Rybakina would need to win the title to become world number one.
Sabalenka will face Czech Sara Bejlek for a place in the last eight.
Earlier, fourth seed Medvedev lost his cool after squandering a match-winning position against Brandon Nakashima.
The Russian had fought back from 5-2 down in the first set to take it on a tie-break and had three match points on the American's serve at 5-4 in the second.
However, Nakashima saved them and won a subsequent tie-break - then ran away with the third set to win 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-1.
Medvedev hurled his racquet at the electronic boards at the back of the court - briefly breaking it - after missing the match points.
He also kicked the screen and knocked over several microphones after committing 51 unforced errors in a poor display.
"Down match points, I was just trying to tell myself to keep fighting for every point," Nakashima said.
"I'm super happy with the level in the third."
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Source: BBC Sport
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