Swiatek Powers Past Rybakina to Reach Cincinnati Open Final
Iga Swiatek showcased her dominance at the Cincinnati Open, defeating Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3 to secure her place in the final. This victory marks Swiatek’s first appearance in the Cincinnati final after falling short in the semifinals in the previous two years.
In a match that lasted 98 minutes, Swiatek, the third seed, overcame a challenging start, winning 10 of the last 13 games. “That was a tough match,” Swiatek remarked. “At the beginning, the level was pretty crazy, and we played so fast that sometimes we couldn’t even run to the second ball.”
Rybakina, the ninth seed, initially took control of the match, breaking Swiatek for a 5-3 lead in the first set. However, Swiatek rallied back, winning four consecutive games to close out the set. She then maintained her momentum in the second set, breaking Rybakina’s serve early and holding firm to secure the match.
Swiatek praised her improved serving, stating, “I served much better, so for sure it helped, and I wouldn’t change anything.”
In the other semifinal, Italy’s Jasmine Paolini triumphed over unseeded Russian Veronika Kudermetova with a score of 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-3. Paolini’s resilience shone through as she recovered from a setback in the second set to close out the match decisively in the third.
Reflecting on her performance, Paolini said, “I have to step back on court, be in the present, and don’t think about what happened.”
Swiatek will face Paolini in the final, aiming to improve her head-to-head record against the Italian to 6-0. As she heads into the final, Swiatek remains undefeated in sets throughout the tournament, setting the stage for a thrilling championship match.
