Cincinnati (AFP) – World number three Jessica Pegula out-lasted defending champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday to reach the final of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters. Pegula rallied from a break down in the final set to subdue six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek in a tense battle that lasted two hours and 47 minutes.
The American will face either unseeded Czech Sara Bejlek or fourth-ranked Coco Gauff in Sunday’s final. Bejlek, 20, went into their Saturday night semi-final seeking another big upset, having knocked off world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round.
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Pegula is chasing her third title of 2026, having won the 1000 level event in Dubai and lifted the trophy in Charleston. She slowed a Swiatek resurgence that had seen the former world number one from Poland claim her first title of 2026 in Toronto this month.
Swiatek and Pegula took the court 30 minutes late due to rain, and the match was interrupted briefly after just two games. A tense first set lasted more than an hour and featured seven breaks of serve, Swiatek agonizingly smacking a volley into the net on set point.
After forcing the deciding set, Swiatek took a 3-1 lead in the third, but Pegula regained the break and broke again when Swiatek double-faulted on break point to fall behind 5-4.
© 2024 AFP
