Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina meet this afternoon in the second Cincinnati Open quarterfinal match on Center Court.
Sabalenka, the world No. 1, arrives brimming with confidence — having claimed her 50th win of the season and defeated the rising 22-year-old Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in straight sets to reach the last eight.
The defending champion hasn’t had it all her way, though — most notably surviving a three-hour, three-set battle against Emma Raducanu — echoing their clash at Wimbledon earlier this year. Last year, Sabalenka didn’t drop a set en route to the Cincinnati title, but this week she’s had to dig deep, showing composure under pressure.
A deep run from Sabalenka is almost a given in any tournament this year, but turning it into a championship depends as much on her mindset as the precision of her racket. We’re seeing both now in Cincinnati.
But she faces an opponent this afternoon who is, in some respects, her mirror image — minus the top ranking and the visible flashes of emotion.
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, shares Sabalenka’s aggressive baseline game, booming serve, and willingness to dictate points early. Both thrive on first-strike tennis, putting pressure on opponents with relentless power and depth.
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, shares Sabalenka’s aggressive baseline game, booming serve, and first-strike mentality. But where Sabalenka wears her emotions openly, Rybakina projects calm, rarely revealing frustration or excitement.
That steadiness has carried her through three-set battles in every match this week, including a comeback win over Madison Keys, proving she can match Sabalenka’s firepower while keeping her composure intact.
Sabalenka–Rybakina Head-to-Head
Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 7–4 overall, with a slight 4–3 edge on outdoor hard courts. However, Rybakina has won their last two hard-court matches. This matchup has been defined by its intensity, with mirror-style aggression from both players.
Prediction
Sabalenka in 3 tight sets. This matchup pits Sabalenka’s power and status as the defending champion against Rybakina’s calm under pressure. Expect shifts in momentum, but Sabalenka’s championship experience and depth of shot-making should ultimately prevail in a close three-set battle.
How to Watch Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elena Rybakina
The Aryna Sabalenka–Elena Rybakina match is now expected to start at around 1:00 PM Eastern on Center Court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, after Iga Swiatek’s defeat of Anna Kalinskaya.
The match will air live on the Tennis Channel.
The Tennis Channel has a live stream simulcast of its TV coverage here, along with a dedicated stream for the Sabalenka–Rybakina match here.
A standalone Tennis Channel streaming subscription is available for $9.99/month or $109.99/year.
Sabalenka vs. Rybakina
Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
Expected Start Time: 1:00 PM Eastern (after Swiatek-Kalinskaya)
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason, Ohio
Court: Center Court
TV: Tennis Channel
Streaming: Tennis Channel app and website
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