(No. 3) Iga Switek def. (No. 9) Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3
Iga Swiatek advanced to the Cincinnati Open final for the first time in her career with a straight-sets win over Elena Rybakina on Sunday.
Rybakina, known for her dominant serve, looked in control early as she built a 5-3 lead in the opening set. But Swiatek responded, winning 10 of the last 13 games of the match. After Rybakina failed to serve out the set, Swiatek broke back to level at 5-5 before breaking once more to close out the set 7-5.
In the second set, Swiatek secured the only break of serve to move ahead 3-1. Although Rybakina saved two match points to extend the contest, Swiatek held firm, closing out the match in one hour and 44 minutes. Swiatek won 81.6% of her first-serve points, compared to just 63.2% for Rybakina.
The win was Swiatek’s fourth consecutive against Rybakina and her sixth in their 10 career meetings. With the win, she advances into Monday’s final, where she will face No. 7 Jasmine Paolini as she seeks her 11th WTA 1000 title.
(No. 7) Jasmine Paolini def. Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-3
Jasmine Paolini reached her first career Cincinnati Open final on Sunday, defeating Veronika Kudermetova in a hard-fought three-set match.
Paolini appeared in command for most of the match, breaking Kudermetova at love late in the first set to seize momentum. Paolini then built on her advantage in the second, breaking midway through the set and moving to within a game of winning at 6-3, 5-4. Serving for the match, however, she faltered for the first time, dropping serve after saving two break points. Kudermetova capitalized on the swing in momentum, dominating the ensuing tiebreak 7-2 to force a decider.
Despite the setback, Paolini quickly regained control in the third set. She converted all three of her break opportunities and held firm on serve, using her consistency and movement to wear down the former world No. 9. After two hours and 35 minutes, Paolini sealed the win to book her place in the final.
With the win, Paolini advances to face world No. 3 Iga Swiatek in Monday’s championship match. It will be their fifth career meeting, with Swiatek holding a 4-0 head-to-head lead—including a 6-1, 6-3 win in the Bad Homburg semifinals earlier this summer.
