Cincinnati: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus advanced to the third round of the Cincinnati Open (WTA 1000 tournament) after defeating Czechia’s Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets (7 ‘5, 6 ‘1). In the next round, Sabalenka will face Britain’s Emma Raducanu, who had beaten Serbia’s Olga Danilovic in straight sets (6 ‘3, 6 ‘2).

According to Qatar News Agency, American Amanda Anisimova, the fifth seed, also reached the third round after the withdrawal of her French opponent Leolia Jeanjean. Anisimova will next face Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya, who defeated American Peyton Stearns in three sets (7 ‘6, 4 ‘6, 6 ‘1).

Sixth-seeded American Madison Keys defeated Germany’s Eva Lys in three sets (1 ‘6, 6 ‘3, 7 ‘6) to set up a third-round clash with Japan’s Aoi Ito, who overcame Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in three sets (6 ‘1, 4 ‘6, 6 ‘1).

Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, the ninth seed, beat Mexico’s Renata Zarazua in three sets (4 ‘6, 6 ‘0, 7 ‘5). Meanwhile, Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova, the 12th seed, joined the third round after defeating New Zealand’s Lulu Sun in straight sets (6 ‘4, 6 ‘2).

Russia’s Diana Shnaider, seeded 14th, exited the tournament after losing to China’s Yue Yuan (4 ‘6, 6 ‘1, 3 ‘6), while Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, seeded 18th, was knocked out by Australia’s Maya Joint (4 ‘6, 6 ‘4, 4 ‘6).