Iga Swiatek sets up final meeting with Jasmine Paolini at Cincinnati Open
The Wimbledon champion continued her strong summer by defeating Elena Rybakina 7-5 6-3 to reach the decider of the WTA 1000 event for the first time.
Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the previous round and held a 5-3 lead in the opening set, but Swiatek responded with a run of four games in a row and held on to an early advantage in the second.
"For sure it was a great match," said Swiatek, who qualified for the WTA Finals with the victory and will retake the number two ranking from Coco Gauff if she wins the final.
"We played such a high intensity from the beginning. I was just going for it. I knew that I can't really take the foot off the gas, I need to really be proactive.
"Even though Elena broke me in the first set, I was trying to come up with some ideas just to return some of her serves, because she was serving amazing.
"I'm happy that I used my chances and I was there when she started missing a bit. Also happy with the level of the second set because I was pretty consistent."
Paolini set up a rematch of last year's French Open final by battling to a 6-3 6-7 (2) 6-3 win against Russian Veronika Kudermetova.
Paolini served for the match in the second set only to see her advantage slip away, but she eventually completed the job, with Kudermetova's tally of 75 unforced errors costing her.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tommy Bowe questions woman's decision to bring child to tennis match
Tommy Bowe has questioned the decision of a parent to bring their child to a tennis match after the child in question disrupted the players by crying. Partway through the match between Emma Raducanu and Aryna Sabalenka at the Cincinnati Open, Raducanu complained about the crying child 'for ten minutes' to the chair umpire, who replied in seemingly disbelief by asking whether Raducanu wanted the child to be removed, to which Raducanu and some of the crowd responded in the affirmative. The British tennis star has come in for some criticism from some quarters for her remarks and attitude to the crying child, but she has a supporter in ex-Ireland rugby star Tommy Bowe who also believes the child shouldn't have been brought to the event. Emma Raducanu (Image: ISI Photos via Getty Images) Appearing on Ireland AM, the topic of Raducanu's comments came up, with Bowe being asked what he as a father of two would have done in the situation. Bowe told actor Gerard Jordan, who was appearing on the show, that he wouldn't have brought his children to such an event, and in an imagined scenario where a babysitter fell through at the last minute, the ex-rugby star claimed that in that situation he would have simply stayed at home with the children. "As a parent, I would know that it would be too stressful for me to take my child in there to be put in that situation. So I'd decide, no, I don't think it's worth upsetting the other people who are watching it and me being put under the stress of doing it. I'll watch it on the telly," said Bowe. Tommy Bowe Like Raducanu, Bowe has come in for some criticism for his comments, with one social media user saying "Disappointed in these comments. No compassion for that mom. Gerard Jordan is just trying to inspire people to put themselves in someone else's shoes for two seconds but y'all can't even do that." Others have defended Bowe, and have suggested that in a sporting event like tennis where the crowd remains mostly silent, perhaps a young child isn't suited to such an environment. As for the match itself, Sabalenka won in three sets as she continues to build momentum ahead of next month's US Open, where Raducanu will team with Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles action.
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Things couldn't have been any worse for me' – Neil Robertson hails new team who turned snooker star's life around
Robertson revealed the details of a zoom call that changed his career Neil-y there 'Things couldn't have been any worse for me' – Neil Robertson hails new team who turned snooker star's life around NEIL ROBERTSON has heaped praise on his new team in the wake of his stunning Saudi Arabia Masters victory. The Aussie battled to a narrow 10-9 victory in a fantastic final against snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan. 2 Australian snooker star Neil Robertson has given credit to his 'life-changing' team Credit: Getty 2 The former world champ beat Ronnie O'Sullivan to win the Saudi Arabia Masters at the weekend Credit: Getty Advertisement The 43-year-old netted the tournament's substantial £500,000 prize and climbed to third in the WST snooker rankings, leapfrogging his final opponent to slot in below second-place Kyren Wilson. He said: "This is a huge rebound from right at the bottom. "Things couldn't have been any worse for me 18 months ago. So to be able to come back the way I have I think this is a feel good story." It has been a tough run for the former world champion in recent years. Advertisement READ MORE ON SNOOKER RON IT GOES Ronnie O'Sullivan, 49, pulls out of Wuhan Open due to medical reasons He missed tournaments and slipped down the rankings in 2023, culminating in him missing the 2024 world championships and being forced to play in qualifiers and losing. To go from a fading star to the winner of one of the biggest prize pots in professional snooker has been quite the turnaround. It is a resurgence that the Thunder from Down Under attributes in part to his new team, featuring sports psychologist Helen Davis and coach Joe Perry. He continued: "I always thought I was really strong mentally, which I am, but I think when you see an actual specialist, a sports psychologist, and you look at tennis players and golfers... Advertisement CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "They're always thanking their team whenever they win, that's the first people they thank is their team. "That's what I've managed to set up with Helen Davis, who's worked with Wimbledon champions, and with Joe [Perry]. Neil Robertson shows his joy holding trophy at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters "At the start of the summer the three of us were on a Zoom call and we talked for about two hours about what is the plan for the season, the mindset, the style of play, what we want to achieve and to see it all come together so quickly is amazing. "Helen has just transformed my life, she really has." Advertisement Winning any major tournament is a statement, but doing so against a marauding O'Sullivan is a particularly emphatic way to start the snooker season. Whether it be his team or newfound confidence to blame, Robertson has clearly reinstated himself as a force to be reckoned with this year.
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘You shouldn't say that' – Jack Draper told off by partner after comment following US Open win over Raducanu and Alcaraz
Draper revealed why he is taking the tournament so seriously JACK IT IN 'You shouldn't say that' – Jack Draper told off by partner after comment following US Open win over Raducanu and Alcaraz JACK DRAPER was told off by his US Open mixed doubles partner Jessica Pegula after a comment in a press conference. The British world No5 and American world No4 are through to the semi-final of the revamped competition. 3 Jack Draper got a telling off from his doubles partner Jessica Pegula Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 3 Pegula called out Draper in the press conference Advertisement 3 She put her hand to her head as he failed to see her point Draper and Pegula saw off Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz in the opening round 4-2 4-2. And they followed it up with a win over Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva 4-1 4-1. Draper and Pegula are battling it out for a cheque worth £741k ($1million) and they are therefore taking it seriously. Advertisement The US Open's move to change the mixed doubles event has been criticised due to the short match format and because many doubles specialist players did not get an invite to feature. READ MORE IN TENNIS NO LOVE LOST Fans say Raducanu and Draper have 'ex vibes' after frosty moment near Alcaraz Asked what it would be like to win, Draper's response got a cheeky glare from Pegula as he said: 'It would mean a lot. "Obviously it is like a bit of an exhibition format. It's nice to play with someone... "What? What did I say? Have a bit of fun with it. I don't know. I like winning. It's good to win, right?" Advertisement In an awkward exchange, Pegula explained: "You shouldn't be saying that, but that's okay. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "It's not an exhibition. I know what you're saying." However, Draper did not learn his lesson, continuing: "It's a bit of an exhibition, a bit of fun, why am I so locked in? It's a good opportunity to play, do well, get a lot of points in before next week. Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper accused of 'ex vibes' as Carlos Alcaraz is upstaged by Brits' awkward embrace at net "I'm enjoying being locked in. I don't know why it's a crime to be locked in.' Advertisement Pegula again smiled and interjected: "I'm just laughing at the 'exhibition' part. "I understand what he was saying, I was just kind of giving him s***. "It has somewhat the feeling it's an exho. It's not called that." They face Casper Ruud and Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek in tonight's semi-final. You can follow the action with our LIVE BLOG from the US Open.
