How Did Sabalenka and Swiatek Reach the Cincinnati Quarters?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Aryna Sabalenka continues to solidify her position as World No. 1.
- Iga Swiatek is focused on overcoming her previous semifinal hurdles.
- The Cincinnati Open showcases the top talents in women's tennis.
- Both players are eyeing the title as they advance in the tournament.
- The competition intensifies as they face formidable opponents.
Cincinnati, Aug 14 (NationPress) World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 3 seed Iga Swiatek have successfully reached the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Open on Thursday (IST).
Defending champion Sabalenka triumphed over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro with a score of 6-1, 7-5, marking her 50th victory of the season.
Next, she will compete against former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, who overcame Australian Open champion Madison Keys 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-2.
Swiatek secured her spot in the quarterfinals by defeating Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-3 in a match that lasted 1 hour and 35 minutes.
She started the match with remarkable speed, hitting three clean winners to clinch an early break, which she maintained throughout the first set.
A couple of double faults from Cirstea gave the Pole an early advantage in the second set, though Swiatek reciprocated with two of her own shortly after, reported WTA.
Despite dropping her serve twice, Swiatek managed to stay ahead at 4-1 and sealed her victory with a forehand winner on her first match point.
"We have faced each other in many tough matches, so I'm aware of how well Sorana can hit the ball, especially on faster surfaces. I was prepared and pleased with my consistency. I aimed to be proactive with my serve—while my first serves weren't as effective, I felt solid on my second serves," Swiatek stated.
Cincinnati is one of only three WTA 1000 tournaments on the current calendar that Swiatek has yet to reach the finals in. She reached the semifinals in both of the last two years, losing to Coco Gauff in 2023 and Aryna Sabalenka the previous year. Her next opponent will be either Anna Kalinskaya, who defeated No. 12 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.