Aryna Sabalenka has lavished praise on Emma Raducanu after she beat the British tennis star at the Cincinnati Open on Monday night.
Raducanu put in a fine showing but it still wasn't enough, with Sabalenka winning 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 in a contest that lasted three hours and 10 minutes.
During the match, the Briton's frustration boiled over.
She suggested a crying child should have been ejected from the court, having cried at a crucial point in the showdown.
Aryna Sabalenka has lavished praise on Emma Raducanu after she beat the British tennis star at the Cincinnati Open on Monday night
|REUTERS
Sabalenka's victory over Raducanu came just weeks after she'd comfortably dispatched the 22-year-old at Wimbledon.
And the Belarusian had nothing but positive things to say about her opponent following their gruelling showdown, with the world No 1 impressed by what she saw.
“As I said after Wimbledon, I’m really happy to see her healthy, mentally and physically," said Sabalenka.
“Every time she’s improving, and I can see that she’s getting back. I’m happy to see that, and I’m enjoying fighting against her.
JUST IN: Emma Raducanu involved in furious row with tennis umpire over crying child in Aryna Sabalenka defeat
“She’s such an incredible player, a really nice person and I’m super happy for her – and, of course, I’m happy to get through this difficult match.
“Three hours and 10 minutes… I really hope that tomorrow is a day off, otherwise I won’t be able to recover after such a great battle.”
Sabalenka also revealed the tiring match left her feeling old.
"The whole time, this is what they call ageing," she admitted. "I was like, 'This is what it feels like to be old'. I looked at Emma, and she was like pumped and ready to play the next point.
READ MORE: Georgina Rodriguez's net worth explained as Cristiano Ronaldo finally proposes after years of dating
Emma Raducanu put in a strong showing during her defeat to world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka
|REUTERS
"I was there still trying to recover my breath, and I was like, 'What's going on?'
"I couldn't believe I was getting old, I looked at Jason [Stacy, her coach] and didn't say anything, but we need to do something because I'm getting old."
Raducanu, meanwhile, said she was proud of her display even if she wasn't able to book her place in the round of 16.
She stated: “She’s world No 1 for a reason and I pushed her more than I did at Wimbledon so that’s an improvement.
“And also, it was good to have this result on a hard court because it’s very different to grass.
"I was always thinking that grass suits me a lot more and I still believe that so to have pushed her on a hard court like that, I’m pretty proud of it.”
She continued: “I think starting the point is a big takeaway.
"I think she did that incredibly well in the big moments, she served and returned really well.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Aryna Sabalenka joked that she felt old during her tennis match against Emma Raducanu
|REUTERS
"Me too in certain moments of the match.
"To hold that level on starting the point in the match is a big thing to me.”