MASON, Ohio -- In the Cincinnati Open, top-ranked Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner secured their spots in the semifinals after overcoming tough challenges on Saturday.
Swiatek continued her impressive form by defeating 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva in a hard-fought match, extending her winning streak to 15. She will now face third-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, who emerged victorious against 10th-ranked Liudmila Samsonova.
Sinner, on the other hand, avenged his previous loss to No. 6 Andrey Rublev with a resilient performance, becoming the first Italian man in the Open era to reach the Cincinnati semifinals.
Swiatek and Sabalenka are set to clash in the semifinals, having met twice already this year with Swiatek prevailing on both occasions. Swiatek expressed her respect for Sabalenka's fighting spirit and power, acknowledging the upcoming match as a battle between two deserving players.
Meanwhile, Sinner will face No. 3 Alexander Zverev, the only former champion remaining in the draw. Zverev secured his spot in the semifinals by defeating Ben Shelton and will look to continue his dominance over Sinner, having won their last four encounters.
Frances Tiafoe advanced to the semifinals for the second consecutive year after Hubert Hurkacz retired due to a calf injury. Tiafoe awaits the winner of the match between Holger Rune and Jack Draper.
In the women's quarterfinals, Jessica Pegula secured her first semifinal berth in Cincinnati by outlasting Leylah Fernandez in a thrilling three-set match. Pegula, coming off a successful title defense in Canada, will face Paula Badosa, who defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Badosa's resurgence in form was acknowledged by Pegula, who praised her opponent's recent performances and labeled her as a top player.
