Iga Świątek and Jessica Pegula are set to headline the Cincinnati Open semifinals after securing hard-fought victories in their respective quarterfinal matches.
Świątek’s Comeback Victory Against Mirra Andreeva
Facing the 17-year-old rising star Mirra Andreeva, Iga Świątek had to dig deep to secure her spot in the semifinals. After losing the first set 4-6, the world No. 1 showed her resilience by winning the next two sets 6-3, 7-5. This victory sets up a thrilling semifinal clash against her longtime rival Aryna Sabalenka.
In the first set, Andreeva broke Świątek early and maintained her lead, saving multiple break points with powerful forehand winners. An ace sealed the set for the young Russian. However, Świątek, known for her mental toughness, broke Andreeva’s serve at the start of the second set and didn’t face another break point until the final game of the match. Andreeva had a chance to force a tiebreak in the third set, but a long backhand gave Świątek the win.
“It was a tough match, in the third set it got really tight,” Świątek told reporters. “The first set was tight too, I lost my serve at the beginning and wasn’t able to break back so it was a really intense one.”
Pegula’s Marathon Win Over Leylah Fernandez
Jessica Pegula also had to battle hard to earn her place in the semifinals, where she will face Spain’s Paula Badosa. Pegula’s quarterfinal match against Leylah Fernandez was a grueling affair, lasting over three hours and featuring two tiebreaks. The final scoreline read 7-5, 6-7 (7-1), 7-6 (7-3).
The first set saw seven consecutive breaks of serve before Pegula finally held to take the lead. Despite taking a 4-0 lead in the second set, Pegula saw Fernandez mount an incredible comeback, winning five consecutive games to force a tiebreak, which Fernandez won to level the match.
In the deciding set, Fernandez saved three match points to push it to another tiebreak, but Pegula’s determination saw her through to the semifinals.
“It was a mental battle today, definitely,” Pegula said after the match. “It was very up and down, first and second set … I was able to tough it out in the end.”
Semifinal Matchups
The semifinals are set to be highly competitive, with both matches promising to deliver excitement:
- Iga Świątek vs. Aryna Sabalenka
Świątek and Sabalenka are familiar foes, often clashing in the later stages of major tournaments. Their rivalry is one of the most intense on the women’s tour, making this semifinal a must-watch. - Jessica Pegula vs. Paula Badosa
While Pegula and Badosa have only met twice before, their previous encounters suggest this will be a tightly contested match. Both players have shown remarkable form in this tournament, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
Conclusion
As the Cincinnati Open semifinals approach, tennis fans can look forward to two exciting matchups. Świątek and Pegula have both shown tremendous mental and physical resilience in their quarterfinal wins, and they will need to bring their best once again to advance to the final.
Key Points:
- Iga Świątek battled back from a set down to defeat Mirra Andreeva.
- Jessica Pegula won a marathon match against Leylah Fernandez.
- The semifinals will feature Świątek vs. Sabalenka and Pegula vs. Badosa.
These semifinal matchups are poised to deliver high-quality tennis and thrilling drama as the players vie for the Cincinnati Open title.(747Live)
