The Cincinnati Open witnessed a dramatic day of tennis, with world number one Aryna Sabalenka and second-ranked Coco Gauff crashing out of the tournament. Sabalenka, the defending champion, was convincingly beaten by Elena Rybakina with a score of 6-1, 6-4. This marks the fifth time Rybakina has beaten Sabalenka in their 12 meetings. Rybakina’s powerful serve played a crucial role in her victory, with 11 aces throughout the match. “I’m happy with the serve. It was the key today,” Rybakina said after the match.
Meanwhile, Gauff’s exit was a shocking one, given her status as the 2023 Cincinnati champion. She lost to seventh-seeded Italian player Jasmine Paolini in a thrilling three-set match, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. Paolini’s relentless pressure and Gauff’s 16 double faults ultimately led to her downfall. Paolini showed remarkable determination, overcoming a twisted ankle suffered early in the third set. “It was so tough at the start, I was running and trying to put the ball inside the court. I started to feel the ball better,” Paolini said, describing her thought process during the match.
On the men’s side, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev have advanced to the semifinals. Alcaraz fought off a fierce challenge from Andrey Rublev, winning 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. Despite being broken while serving for victory at 5-4 in the final set, Alcaraz found his focus and used his trademark grit to come through three games later. Zverev, meanwhile, dominated Ben Shelton, winning 6-2, 6-2. However, Zverev is currently feeling unwell and has 24 hours to recover before his semifinal match against Alcaraz. “I’m not feeling too great now, but I have a day to get fresh. I hope to be at 100%,” Zverev said.
The semifinals are set to be thrilling, with Rybakina facing off against Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek, who defeated Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-4. Swiatek expressed confidence after her win, saying, “I’m happy that I’m progressing during the tournament.” Meanwhile, Alcaraz will face Zverev, provided Zverev can recover from his current health issues.
Rybakina’s victory over Sabalenka has given her a significant confidence boost, especially since she has won her last three matches against Swiatek. However, Swiatek remains a formidable opponent, and the match promises to be an exciting one. “If she had been serving well, it would have been a totally different match,” Rybakina acknowledged, highlighting the importance of her serve in the match.
Paolini’s win over Gauff sets her up for a semifinal match against Veronika Kudermetova, who crushed Varvara Gracheva 6-1, 6-2. Paolini will look to continue her impressive form and make it to the finals. “I fought for every point and stayed in the match,” Paolini said, reflecting on her strategy during the match.
