Belarus veteran Aryna Sabalenko missed nine match points to beat world number one Iga Swiatek of Poland 6-3, 6-3 to reach her first WW Cincinnati Open final.
Sabalenko, a four-time semifinalist in Cincinnati, has reached second place in the women's singles rankings just a week before the start of the US Open Grand Slam. In the final, she will face sixth seed Jessica Pegula of America, who defeated Spain's Paula Badosa 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the other semifinal. Pegula, who won the Toronto Open title last week, became the third American in the Open era to reach the finals of the Canada and Cincinnati Open in the same year. Earlier, Rosie Casals (1970) and Serena Williams (2013) have achieved this feat. In a thrilling match that lasted for about two hours, Sabalenko finally hit a return winner on her 10th match point and ended Swiatek's campaign and entered the final. After winning the match, she said, 'Four times I could not go beyond the last-4 but finally I have crossed the barrier.'
Sinner beats Zverev, Tiafoe beats Holger Rune in men's singles semi-finals
In men's singles, world number one Jannik Senior of Italy defeated Germany's Alexander Zverev 7-6 (9), 5-7, 7-6 (4) to reach the final of the Cincinnati ATP tennis tournament. He took about three hours and 11 minutes to win the semi-final. In the final, he will face Francis Tiafoe, who defeated Holger Rune 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4) in the second semi-final after losing the first set. Sinner is the first Italian player to reach the final of the Cincinnati Open. Sinner has won the most men's singles titles this year with four more than any other player. He completed his preparations for the year's last Grand Slam US Open later this month by winning the title despite a right hamstring injury. Tiafoe also became the first American player to reach the final of the Cincinnati Open since 2013. Eventually John Isner played the final.