World No. 3 Swiatek powers past Rybakina into Cincinnati WTA final

Cincinnati: Iga Swiatek reached the final of the ATP WTA Cincinnati Open for the first time on Sunday, surging past Elena Rybakina 7 5, 6 3 in a match...

Cincinnati: Iga Swiatek reached the final of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open for the first time on Sunday, surging past Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3 in a match played in sweltering summer conditions.

Poland's Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, recovered an early break in the opening set and powered away to beat 2022 All England winner Rybakina -- who had swept past world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals.

Swiatek, a former world number one now ranked third, had twice stalled at the semi-final stage at the pre-US Open event, but booked her title chance on her third opportunity.

She will vie for the title on Monday against either seventh-seeded Italian Jasmine Paolini or Veronika Kudermetova.

"It was a tough match," Swiatek said. "At the beginning it was crazy, so hot and we were playing so fast."