Aryna Sabalenka ends three-match losing streak against Iga Swiatek to progress to Cincinnati Open final

Aryna Sabalenka needed 10 match points to beat World No. 1 Iga Swiatek in straight sets and reach the Cincinnati Open final.

Aryna Sabalenka ends three-match losing streak against Iga Swiatek to progress to Cincinnati Open final

Aryna Sabalenka (via Imago)

Third seed Aryna Sabalenka ended her three-match losing streak against World No. 1 Iga Swiatek to reach the Cincinnati Open final. She reached her third Masters 1000 final of the season by beating Swiatek 6-3, 6-3.

The Belarusian needed an astonishing 10 match points to put down Swiatek. She will play either Jessica Pegula or Paula Badosa in the final. If she manages to go all the way in Cincinnati, she will clinch her 15th WTA title and first since the Australian Open in January.

This is Sabalenka’s fifth final of the season and she is set to overtake Coco Gauff to regain the World No. 2 rankings on Tuesday (August 20). It means she can be expected to be seeded second at the upcoming US Open.

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In addition, the Australian Open champion will pass Elena Rybakina in the Race to the WTA Finals, sitting just behind Swiatek, who has already qualified. The win against Swaitek also sees Sabalenka get revenge for the back-to-back WTA 1000 final losses in Madrid and Rome.

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Iga Swiatek struggling with form ahead of US Open title bid

Although Aryna Sabalenka was fantastic in the Cincinnati Open semifinal against Iga Swiatek, many questions have been raised about the World No. 1’s form. The Pole was playing her first tournament since securing the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.

Iga Swiatek Cincinnati Open
Iga Swiatek Cincinnati Open (via X)

Swiatek, who recently complained about the congested nature of the tennis calendar, has seemingly found it difficult to adjust to the continuous change in surfaces. On the grass courts of Wimbledon, she made a fourth-round exit.

Immediately after that, she took part in the Olympics, where the tennis event was held on the clay court of Roland Garros. Though she failed to get the gold, she managed to win the bronze for her country. After that, she decided to skip all events and take part in the Cincinnati Open, and she did not look very comfortable on the hard courts.

The 23-year-old struggled in her quarterfinal match against Mirra Andreeva, where she had to come from behind to win a tight contest. Against Salabenka, she did get the chance to mount a comeback. She now heads to the US Open, where she will be hoping to adapt to the surface and win her second Grand Slam of the season, after the French Open.

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