Saba's winning momentum was overshadowed by her opponent, leading netizens to jokingly suggest that Raducanu shouldn't worry about being abandoned by Roig.

After Raducanu faced Sabalenka in the second round of the Cincinnati 1000 tournament, while everyone anticipated the final outcome, they did not expect the match to unfold so dramatically. The British player nearly sent the world number one home, stealing the spotlight from Sabalenka in the process!

In their previous two encounters, Raducanu had failed to secure a victory, and the odds from betting companies were not in her favor. When it was announced that Raducanu would be Sabalenka's opponent in her Cincinnati debut, almost everyone assumed that the British player was merely there to be a stepping stone, likely to be swept aside by the world number one in straight sets.

At the same time, another new topic emerged in the media: if Raducanu faced a crushing defeat at the hands of Sabalenka, would it shake Roig's confidence in her, making it difficult to turn their short-term collaboration into a long-term one, potentially leading to her being abandoned by the renowned coach after the new season?

From the British player's performance in the first set, it seemed she was also afraid of this scenario happening to her, playing with an unusually proactive attitude. She broke Sabalenka's serve early on, earning the first cheer from fans and netizens in the livestream!

The reason Raducanu felt different this time was that, despite Sabalenka's strong play, she not only did not crumble quickly but also managed to keep the match competitive, transforming from a meek player into a formidable opponent, earning her newfound respect. Although Sabalenka ultimately triumphed in the subsequent tiebreak, it certainly gave the Belarusian a scare.

When viewers saw Raducanu displaying such extraordinary fighting spirit and stability, many in the livestream believed that as long as the British player maintained this level of determination and form, Sabalenka would face increasingly tough challenges ahead, making it incredibly difficult for the world number one to defeat her easily.

Indeed, Raducanu is half a compatriot of Chinese fans and netizens, and her half-Chinese heritage allowed her to quickly grasp the sentiments of the audience from afar.

Seeing Sabalenka elevate her game in the second set, intensifying her offensive strategy to seek a quick resolution, Raducanu engaged in a fierce battle with the world number one. With her remarkable resilience, she finally managed to break Sabalenka at a crucial moment, winning the set 6-4.

With the British player leveling the score, the match moved into a decisive third set, instantly igniting the excitement of fans and netizens. Everyone was eager to see how Sabalenka would tackle the challenge posed by the now formidable Raducanu in the final set.

The final set was undoubtedly the highlight of the match. Both Sabalenka and Raducanu maintained their highest form and stability throughout the first twelve games, showing no signs of decline, which made the tiebreak in the final set incredibly intense.

Although Sabalenka ultimately won the tiebreak in the final set, her victory came with great difficulty and tension, as evidenced by the close score of 7-5. This is why, after Raducanu's loss, the public was quick to bestow the phrase "defeat with honor" upon her, cheering for her passionately.

Another reason this set became a topic of discussion was that the eighth game reached 13 deuces, lasting a full 24 minutes before a winner was determined, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats.

After the match, everyone praised Raducanu, allowing her to overshadow the victorious Sabalenka. This was mainly because, against the world number one whom she had never defeated before, the British player showcased a brand new version of herself.

In their previous two encounters, Raducanu had suffered complete defeats. However, from the start to the finish of this match, she was able to hold her own against the world number one in almost every aspect, demonstrating a rapid improvement that truly deserves recognition.

After forming a partnership with Nadal's esteemed coach Roig, Raducanu praised his extensive experience, stating that his guidance had greatly helped her. Initially, many thought this was just politeness from the British player, but based on her performance against Sabalenka, it is clear that Raducanu's transformation is genuine, likely a significant change brought about by Roig's involvement.

Raducanu's impressive performance this time also led netizens to joke that she needn't worry about being abandoned by Roig. Previously, there were speculations that if she suffered a crushing defeat and exited Cincinnati prematurely, it could shake Roig's confidence in her. However, the situation has completely changed now. Although Raducanu's debut collaboration with Roig in Cincinnati did not meet external expectations, it is unlikely to affect their future partnership. Coaches like Roig often focus more on a player's potential, and Raducanu excelled in that regard, naturally boosting Roig's confidence in their collaboration and affirming that the British player is worth his full support.

Having put on an incredible performance against world number one Sabalenka has left everyone eagerly anticipating Raducanu's showing at the US Open. People are also curious to see what kind of results Roig and Raducanu will achieve together following their promising trial collaboration in Cincinnati!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River's Starry Sky)