Jannik Sinner, the top-ranked player, toughed out a victory against Alexander Zverev in a third-set tiebreaker at the Cincinnati Open on Sunday, securing a spot in the final. Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek, the No. 1 seed in the women’s event, was defeated by No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals.
Sinner will face American Frances Tiafoe in the final, while Sabalenka will compete against American Jessica Pegula. The Italian player reached his fifth final of the season after a grueling 3-hour, 7-minute match, clinching a 7-6 (9), 5-7, 7-6 (4) victory over Zverev.
Tiafoe staged a comeback to defeat Holger Rune 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4) in the late match, setting up an exciting final against Sinner. Sinner has been leading the tour with four titles this season.
Despite facing a right hip issue, Sinner managed to push through the match and expressed contentment with his performance. On the women’s side, Sabalenka secured her spot in the final with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 win over Swiatek, halting the latter’s 15-match winning streak.
Although Swiatek, who has been at the top of the WTA rankings for 116 weeks, was disappointed by the loss, she acknowledged her overall success in the tournament. She is now shifting her focus towards preparing for the upcoming US Open, which commences on August 26. Swiatek previously claimed the US Open title in 2022.
Pegula, the No. 6 seed, also advanced to the final by defeating Paula Badosa 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 after a rain delay. Pegula, who recently defended her title in Canada, is the third American after Serena Williams in 2013 to reach the finals in both Canada and Cincinnati in a calendar year.
Sabalenka commended her upcoming opponent, Pegula, acknowledging their past competitive encounters. She anticipates another intense battle in the final match.
Source: AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis