This post features 15 photos from day 5 of main draw action at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati including Ash Barty, Simona Halep, Amanda Anisimova, Elina Svitolina, Elise Mertens, Petra Kvitova, Lesia Tsurenko, Madison Keys and Aryna Sabalenka. Many thanks to Omar for kindly sharing his photos with Moo’s Tennis Blog! You can check out Omar’s official website HERE and his Twitter page HERE.
Another good week for Ash Barty in singles. Her two losses in Montreal and Cincy both came against the world number one.
Simona Halep came from a break down in both sets to beat Barty, 6-4 7-5. Another match still to come for Simona on Friday…
Amanda Anisimova on serve against Elina Svitolina in their rain-delayed third round match.
Love this shot of Elina Svitolina!
Svitolina beats Anisimova, 6-4 6-4 to move into the quarter-finals. Another match still to come for Elina on Friday…
In the first of the quarter-finals, Elise Mertens put up a great fight against Petra Kvitova.
Pojd Petra! Petra Kvitova outlasted Mertens in three gruelling sets to reach her sixth semi-final of 2018.
You can never get enough Petra pics.
See above.
Doing double duty, Elina Svitolina came up short in her second match of the day against Kiki Bertens.
Kiki keeps rolling… another brilliant win for Kiki Bertens. Another 👀 on the 🎾 shot!
Lesia Tsurenko led the world number one, Simona Halep, 4-1 in the first set of their quarter-final.
Simona Halep wins 11 of the last 12 games to beat Lesia Tsurenko and make it eight straight wins. An exceptional effort from Simona!
Madison Keys on serve during the evening match against Aryna Sabalenka on Center Court.
Aryna Sabalenka saved all ten break points faced to beat Keys in straight sets and continue her dream week in Cincy.
Moo's Tennis Blog 
Halep playing Montreal, Cin, New Haven and USO in a row with no break. Halep should keep her eye on The Big Prize and skip NH, but she is scheduled to play Tues night.
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I’m sure she will cancel if she reaches the final here.
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I think Halep entering New Haven was because she hasn’t played enough Premier tournaments this year. I could see her perhaps playing a match that in NH.
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I hope so too, I don’t want to see here with blisters or anything during the USopen. A well rested Halep, I can see her in the quarters at the least. I like how the French win has been a positive on her game.
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Halep is my favourite to win the US Open, barring any injury.
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I’d like to see Madi win it, seeing as she came so close last time but failed to do herself justice in the final, but Karo Pliskova’s chances should be taken seriously IMO. I think Simona would be well advised to rest next week and not play in NH (the same with Petra, who is obviously exhausted), and if she does I think she’d be in with a good chance of winning the title in Flushing Meadows.
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I thought Pliskova’s win over Radwanska was noteworthy but still not convinced by her form to be honest. Keys will definitely be up there for me as she often seems to bring it at the Slams and thought she looked sound in Cincy.
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Excellent photos. I like the Mertens outfit.
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Elina isn’t having an easy time these days. I like to believe she still gears herself up for the USopen in full confidence. Good win for Bertens though. I like Mertens outfit too, even the upcoming outfits for the USopen, from nike, fila and others look great. I hope the women play great in them as well.
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Solid weeks for Elina in Montreal and Cincy but perhaps expected more based on what she has achieved on hard courts over the past few years? On a plus note, I don’t think many will be talking about her for the US Open and there will be a bit less pressure/expectation than say going into the Australian Open and the French Open.
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For those discussing most improved players, I think Sabalenka should be given a consideration, especially if she keeps on through out the season.
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Sabalenka was ranked #250 last year and now has a live ranking of #25. When I saw her in an ITF event last year, she was a pure ball basher, which was a winning strategy in the ITF. This year she has greatly added more controlled shots to her power game, and if her game continues to mature she could be #1 in three years.
Sabalenka is big 5’11, has great natural power and moves very athletically for someone her size.
Of course, if she falls in love with Nick Kyrgios then it’s game over.
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I’m impressed by Sabalenka’s progress in the last few months. I agree that she’s more than just a pure ball basher. She has touch and I like her intent to come forward.
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Yes to this. I’d still have Buzarnescu, Bertens and Mertens as my top three because they been mostly consistent throughout the entire year. Apart from Lugano, I feel like Sabalenka has only really pushed on since Eastbourne. Her last few months have been sensational though! Hoping she doesn’t go too deep in New Haven and can get some rest before the US Open. Hoping also for a better draw than Wimby where she drew Buz first round!
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