Sabalenka starts the decider tentatively, trailing 0-30 before rediscovering her first serve to level at 30-30.

Another first serve out wide cannot be reached by Raducanu's stretching forehand, then pulls out another to round out a confidence-boosting hold.

London buses and all that.

Sabalenka saunters back out on to court, looks slightly more refreshed after a splash of cold water and a change of outfit.

Let's see if that helps her tennis.

Raducanu takes the opportunity to go to speak with her new coach Francisco Roig.

Wonderfully, we can hear every word of it.

"You're better than her," Roig starts rather boldly. "When you're more relaxed, your serve is better."

The Spaniard then mimics what he wants to do with her forehand. "Be brave, roll it," he says.

After levelling, Raducanu decides to pop off court for a quick break. She's got a spring in her step, literally as well as metaphorically.

With the heat rule is in place in a hot and sticky Cincinnati, Sabalenka also decides to head indoors for a quick change.

Sabalenka hauls Raducanu back to 15-15 with some baseline brutality, but then is too eager and makes errors.

Two set points for Raducanu... and she takes the first one with a second-set ace out wide.

We're all square!

Before going to her chair, Sabalenka's team lob down a bottle of something wet and packed with electrolytes.

That's an indication that the top seed needs to cool down and hydrate in the Cincy heat.

Now we will see if Raducanu can keep her cool...

A word of caution... we've seen Sabalenka recover from these positions so many times. She trailed 4-1 in the second set of their Wimbledon match remember.

But, dare I say it... Sabalenka looks a little fed up and flustered. Maybe the heat is getting to her.

Nevertheless she manages to hold and it will be up to Raducanu to serve out the second set.

Raducanu is playing the more consistent tennis at the moment. That's been good enough to move a break ahead against the world number one.

Can she maintain her excellent serving and consolidate? Yes she can.

Even when she misses a return for 40-30, Raducanu is reassured by new coach Francisco Roig that she is doing the right things.

Again, she resets and seals the game to move closer to levelling the match.

Raducanu gambles on the first way but is beaten by Sabalenka's serve, then sees the second go begging too.

Then, at 30-40, she has a chance on Sabalenka's second serve... and the Brit takes it!

A thumping return from Raducanu leaves Sabalenka dropping low on her haunches on the baseline.

That isn't a good sign for the Belarusian. More mistakes follow as Raducanu continues to play brave and boldly.

Three break points!

Not a single break point to write about in this second set. Nip and tuck.

Emma Raducanu hopes to keep it that way.

Landing a high percentage of first serves has been very helpful for the Brit, with an ace putting her 40-15 ahead.

Then comes a double fault... but there is no major damage done.

"Win this set and you'll win the match," says Francisco Roig from her coaching box.

Talk about positive reinforcement.

Sabalenka has other ideas. While she is far from steady and consistent, the three-time major champion's ceiling is so high it doesn't matter.

Another hold and we're back all square in this tight second set.

There was a time when Raducanu's mindset was called into question.

This year, certainly since March, she has answered a few critics about her mental toughness.

She's sticking in this battle, too. A smoker from Sabalenka crosscourt pulls Raducanu back to 15-30 before the British number one serves - and moves - smartly to hold.

Sabalenka is getting, shall we say, miffed at regularly missing first serves.

If I typed out what she's saying there might be some asterisks.

Nevertheless, the top seed drags herself over the line when another second serve goes unpunished by Raducanu.

There has been some chat of potential thundery rain delays in Ohio. My dinner plans will be ruined if that happens.

Let's hope the only rumble we hear is my stomach and not the skies. At the moment it is sunshine, thankfully.

Raducanu's demeanour is brighter than Sabalenka's at the moment, with the Brit swarming over her opponent's second serve.

Raducanu is always a point behind but scraps to force deuce...

Raducanu's serve is an area which has paid particular attention to improving this year and you'd imagine it is something which will continue to be focused on.

Her first serve has been decent today, illustrated by the way she holds to 15 and draws level.

Right then, what's the second set got in store for us?

Raducanu will aim to continue being "calm and brave" - which is the key message from her new coach Francisco Roig. Will that be enough though?

Sabalenka begins the second set with a dominant hold.

Anyone else got a sense of deja vu? A very similar pattern to their Wimbledon meeting - albeit Raducanu not getting quite as close as she did to claiming the first set.

Sabalenka, by the way, has won 17 WTA-level tie breaks in 2025. That is the highest women's singles tally in a single entire calendar year during the Open era, according to our friends at Opta.

Er, no. Sabalenka emphatically slams the door shut with a blistering ace which burns the line down the T.

More encouraging signs from Raducanu - but still not enough to take a set off one of the world's creme de la creme.

Raducanu saves one... and then two. The second was an excellent point finished with a beautiful crosscourt backhand past Sabalenka at the net.

Raducanu can't do the seemingly impossible - can she?