As the Cincinnati Open 2025 is entering its final stages, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka prepares to take on ninth seed Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals. Both players have looked in good touch and we are in for what promises to be an exciting encounter at the WTA 1000 event.
Aryna Sabalenka on Elena Rybakina Challenge at Cincinnati Open
Sabalenka entered the Cincinnati Open as the defending champion and received a bye to the second round. Here, she triumphed 7-5, 6-1 win over Markéta Vondroušová before edging out Emma Raducanu 7-6(3) 4-6, 7-6(5). The Belarusian then defeated Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-1, 7-5 to book her place in the quarterfinals.
On the other hand, Elena Rybakina came from a set down to beat Renata Zarazúa 4-6, 6-0, 7-5) in her first match. She then registered a similar victory over Elise Mertens (4-6, 6-3, 7-5) to to set up a fourth-round clash with Madison Keys. Once again, Rybakina came back from a set down to beat the Australian Open champion 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2.
Speaking to Tennis Channel ahead of her match against Rybakina, Sabalenka said that she was excited to face the Kazakh.
“It’s going to be a really aggressive match. I’d say, two big servers, and we played a lot of great battles in the past. And I always enjoyed playing against her, and yeah, it’s just going to be another great match, another great opportunity to work on something new to improve my tennis. And I’m excited to face her in the quarterfinals,” the World No. 1 said.
A Look at the Head-to-Head Record Between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina
So far, Sabalenka and Rybakina have met 11 times, with the Belarusian leading 7-4. However, their matches have mostly been tightly contested.
Sabalenka beat Rybakina 7-6(6), 3-6, 7-6(6) in their most recent encounter, which came in Berlin during the grass season. The Kazakh’s last win over the World No. 1 came in 2024 when she won 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 during that year’s WTA Finals.
Five of their 11 matches have gone three sets. Sabalenka has been steadier overall, but Rybakina has caught up, winning four of their last six matches.
Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka will face each other in the Cincinnati Quarterfinals.
Aryna leads the head to head 7-4.
They’ve split their last 4 meetings.
The last time they played, Elena had 4 match points, but Aryna pulled off the comeback.
The two biggest servers.… pic.twitter.com/khU4FrniAA
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 14, 2025
Whoever out of Sabalenka or Rybakina comes out on top, will take on ether third seed Iga Świątek or 28th seed Anna Kalinskaya in the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open.
