(Video) Iga Swiatek Gets Into an Awkward Confrontation With Interviewer After Reaching Cincinnati Open Final

Iga Swiatek has now officially qualified for the WTA Finals, after turning around Cincinnati semi-final against Elena Rybakina.

(Video) Iga Swiatek Gets Into an Awkward Confrontation With Interviewer After Reaching Cincinnati Open Final

Iga Swiatek got into an awkward confrontation (via BBC/X/Tennis Letter)

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Iga Swiatek’s win over Elena Rybakina at the Cincinnati Open was followed by a lighthearted moment during her on-court interview. While answering questions after the match, she suddenly paused and asked if it had started to rain.

The interviewer looked up and reassured her that the sky was clear, joking instead that it was probably a bit of spit while speaking. Swiatek laughed it off, adding that she thought she had heard thunder but it must have been her imagination.

The exchange left both the crowd and Swiatek amused, giving a playful end to her semi-final evening. The Polish star, who recently triumphed at Wimbledon, appeared relaxed despite the unusual interruption. It was a reminder of her lighter side as she prepares for another big final. The interviewer said to Swiatek:

No, it’s probably me spitting on you while I’m asking a question.

On court, Swiatek had to work hard in the opening set against Rybakina but came through 7-5 with some clutch play. She then shifted gears in the second, sealing a more comfortable 6-3 victory to secure her spot in the championship match.

Her consistency and composure carried her past one of the toughest opponents on tour. With the win, she moves on to face either Veronika Kudermetova or Jasmine Paolini in the final as she aims for another WTA 1000 title.

Iga Swiatek set to overtake Coco Gauff in the ATP Rankings

Coco Gauff’s quarter-final loss at the Cincinnati Open has given Iga Swiatek a chance to move back up to No 2 in the WTA Rankings, but the task is far from straightforward. Gauff has been holding the second spot since May, after she overtook Swiatek when the Pole failed to defend her Italian Open title.

Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek
Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

The American strengthened her ranking by winning the French Open, while Swiatek slipped to No. 8 after a semi-final exit in Paris. A Wimbledon triumph then lifted the Polish star back to No. 3. With both players falling early at the Canadian Open, their battle for the second spot intensified heading into Cincinnati. The No 2 ranking also carries extra weight as it determines seeding for the upcoming US Open.

Sabalenka continues to lead the rankings by a wide margin on 12,010 points, while Gauff began the Ohio event in second with 7,669 points. Swiatek was close behind in third, trailing by 736 points. Gauff’s run came to an end against Jasmine Paolini in the last eight, but she picked up 205 points to move to 7,874.

Swiatek, in contrast, advanced to the semi-finals with a straight-sets win over Anna Kalinskaya, taking her tally to 7,323 in the live rankings. The gap remains, but she still has a chance to overtake Gauff. For that to happen, she will need to win the Cincinnati title and collect maximum points to reclaim the No 2 spot.

Iga Swiatek qualifies for WTA Finals

Third seed Iga Swiatek has officially secured her spot at the 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh after reaching the final of the Cincinnati Open. She becomes the second player to qualify for the season-ending event, joining world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who booked her place in July. Swiatek will now prepare for her fifth straight appearance at the prestigious tournament.

Iga Swiatek Wimbledon towel
Iga Swiatek (image via Wimbledon)

The Polish star is the defending WTA Finals champion, having won the 2023 edition without dropping a set. Her 2025 season has been highlighted by a historic Wimbledon victory, where she became the first Polish player in the Open Era—male or female—to claim the singles title at the All England Club. That triumph also brought her career total to 23 titles, placing her second among active players behind Petra Kvitova.

Alongside her Wimbledon success, Swiatek was runner-up at the WTA 500 Bad Homburg Open and has reached five additional semifinals at either Grand Slam or WTA 1000 level. She also played a key role in leading Poland to the United Cup final earlier in the year. Consistency across these results has helped her collect more than 6,000 points in the PIF Race to the WTA Finals.

The 2025 WTA Finals will take place in Riyadh from November 1 to 8. The top eight singles players and doubles teams will compete, with one additional spot reserved for a Grand Slam winner ranked between No 8 and No 20. The event will feature round-robin play, with the singles champion lifting the Billie Jean King Trophy and the doubles winners claiming the Martina Navratilova Trophy.

Also Read: Elena Rybakina Outlines what Aryna Sabalenka could have Done Better During Their Clash in Cincinnati