By Aryna Sabalenka delivered an impressive performance at the Cincinnati Open, defeating world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in straight sets to advance to the final, where she will face Jessica Pegula. Sabalenka’s 6-3, 6-3 victory marks her fourth career win over Swiatek and her first this season in their 12 meetings.
The Belarusian, who is set to move up to second in the rankings after the tournament, showcased her aggressive playstyle by breaking Swiatek’s serve five times. Despite a tense moment when she squandered nine match points, Sabalenka eventually secured the win on her tenth opportunity.
“That was definitely a tough moment of the match,” Sabalenka told Sky Sports. “I kept telling myself she is world No. 1 and is going to fight till the very last point. I just tried to remind myself to stay aggressive, keep pushing her, and hopefully get this win.”
Sabalenka’s victory earns her a spot in her first Cincinnati Open final and her ninth WTA 1000 final overall. She will be seeking her sixth title at this level when she faces the in-form Jessica Pegula, who is on a nine-match winning streak after securing a hard-fought 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win over Spain’s Paula Badosa in the other semi-final.
Pegula, the sixth seed, is aiming to go back-to-back after her Canadian Open triumph last week. Despite a rain delay during her match against Badosa, Pegula managed to regain control in the final set, breaking Badosa’s serve in the eighth game to seal her place in the final.
With both players in top form, the Cincinnati Open final promises to be an exciting showdown between Sabalenka’s power and Pegula’s resilience.
