Top-seeded Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner both fought off tough opponents on Saturday to secure spots in the semifinals at the Cincinnati Open. Swiatek continued her impressive 15-match winning streak by defeating 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 victory. She will now face third-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets.
Sinner managed to avenge his previous loss to Andrey Rublev by securing a hard-fought 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory, becoming the first Italian man in the Open era to reach the Cincinnati semifinals. Sinner credited his consistency in the windy conditions for his win and expressed positivity about reaching the semis for the first time in Cincinnati.
Swiatek and Sabalenka have faced each other twice this year, with Swiatek coming out on top both times. Despite Swiatek’s impressive record against Sabalenka, she praised her opponent’s fighting spirit and power on the court. Neither Swiatek nor Sabalenka have reached the final in Cincinnati before.
On the men’s side, Sinner is set to take on No. 3 Alexander Zverev in the semifinals. Zverev, the lone former champion left in the draw, secured his spot by defeating Ben Shelton in a hard-fought match. Frances Tiafoe also advanced to the semifinals, benefiting from Hubert Hurkacz’s retirement due to injury.
In the women’s quarterfinals, Jessica Pegula claimed her first semifinal berth in Cincinnati after a tough three-set battle with Leylah Fernandez. Pegula, who recently defended her title in Canada, will face Paula Badosa in the next round. Badosa defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets, impressing Pegula with her current form and strong performance.
The stage is set for exciting matches in the upcoming semifinals as the players vie for a spot in the finals at the Cincinnati Open.