Sinner and Sabalenka Advance Smoothly in Cincinnati Title Defenses

World number ones Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka began their title defenses in emphatic fashion at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Saturday, cruising into the third round with commanding victories.

Sinner, returning to competition for the first time since winning Wimbledon, dismantled Colombian qualifier Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1, 6-1 in just 59 minutes, the fastest win of his ATP career. The Italian fired 17 winners against just four unforced errors and dominated from the start, racing to a 5-0 lead within 15 minutes. It was his 22nd consecutive hardcourt victory, with his last loss on the surface coming in September’s Beijing final against Carlos Alcaraz.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Sinner said. “The ball is flying here, so you have to serve precisely. Today I was finding my spots, but there’s still room to improve. For a first match, it couldn’t have gone better.”

Sabalenka, the women’s top seed and defending champion, overcame 2023 Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 6-1 in the night session. The Belarusian took 54 minutes to claim the opening set with a decisive service break, before fending off five break points early in the second to secure control.

“It’s always a tough match against her,” Sabalenka said of her Czech rival. “If you lose focus even a little, it can cost you a set. I had to fight for every point.” Sabalenka now faces Britain’s Emma Raducanu, who defeated Olga Danilovic 6-3, 6-2.

Elsewhere in the men’s draw, fourth-seeded American Taylor Fritz eased past Emilio Nava 6-4, 6-4, while seventh seed Holger Rune edged Russian Roman Safiullin 7-5, 7-6 (7/5). Upsets came with France’s Benjamin Bonzi beating eighth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), and compatriot Artur Rinderknech eliminating 11th seed Casper Ruud 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-2 after capitalizing on the Norwegian’s 34 unforced errors.

On the women’s side, reigning Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek began strongly, defeating Anastasia Potapova 6-1, 6-4. Despite never reaching the final in Cincinnati, the Polish third seed kept her focus at crucial moments, saving four of five break points faced. “It was up and down in the second set, but in the important moments I got my level up,” Swiatek said.

Australian Open champion Madison Keys endured a far tougher battle, saving two match points before overcoming Germany’s Eva Lys 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) in over two hours.

With both defending champions in commanding form, the Cincinnati Open continues to build momentum toward a potentially star-studded final weekend.