Sabalenka defeats Swiatek in WTA semifinals

Aryna Sabalenka achieved a significant milestone in her career by defeating world number one Iga Swiatek 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals of the WTA and ATP Cincinnati Open on Sunday. Despite facing a challenging match where she squandered nine match points, Sabalenka's victory marks her first final appearance at this prestigious tournament. With this win, she is set to rise to second in the WTA rankings just a week before the US Open. The match showcased Sabalenka's resilience as she battled through a tense second set. Leading 5-1, she faced a determined Swiatek, who fought back and saved multiple match points, demonstrating her status as the top-ranked player. Sabalenka was briefly broken at 5-3, but ultimately secured the win with a decisive break on her tenth match point after nearly two hours of play. Reflecting on her victory, Sabalenka expressed her relief and excitement, stating, “I finally broke the barrier.” She acknowledged the tough competition from Swiatek and the challenges posed by intermittent rain delays that required court maintenance. Sabalenka emphasized the importance of maintaining focus, recognizing Swiatek's tenacity as a world number one. This win serves as a form of redemption for Sabalenka, who previously lost to Swiatek in Masters-level finals in Madrid and Rome last spring. She will now prepare to face either Paula Badosa or Jessica Pegula in the final on Monday.