MASON, Ohio — World No. 1s Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner held off challenges to advance to the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open on Saturday.
Swiatek extended her winning streak to 15 matches with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 victory over 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva. Swiatek will face No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka, who won 6-3, 6-2 over No. 10 Liudmila Samsonova.
Sinner became the first Italian male player to reach the Cincinnati semifinals in the Open era after overcoming a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 quarterfinal loss to No. 6 Andrei Rublev in Montreal last week.
“It was very windy and we were trying to be as consistent as possible,” Sinner said. “It’s my first time playing a semi-final here so I’m very positive.”
Swiatek and Sabalenka met twice this year, with Swiatek winning the finals at Roland Garros and Madrid. Swiatek won 8-3 over the two-time Grand Slam winner.
“We both deserve to be in the semifinals and finals because we work really hard,” Swiatek said. “I really respect Arina. Physically, she’s always fighting and strong.”
Neither player advanced to the finals in Cincinnati.
Swiatek lost to eventual winner Coco Gauff in her first semifinal appearance last year. Sabalenka has reached the semifinals three times, including the last two years.
“We’ve had a lot of great fights in the past,” Sabalenka said. “It’s always a high-intensity fight. I’m really looking forward to another great fight with her.”
Sinner will face No. 3 Alexander Zverev. The only remaining former champion in the tournament, Zverev beat Ben Shelton 3-6, 7-6, 7-5. Zverev has won four straight matches against Sinner.
Frances Tiafoe has advanced to the semifinals for the second year in a row after Hubert Hurkacz withdrew in the second set with a calf injury. Tiafoe will face the winner of the second half between Holger Rune and Jack Draper.
In the other women’s quarterfinal, No. 6 Jessica Pegula defeated Leila Fernandez 6-2, 6-7, 7-6 to advance to her first semifinal in Cincinnati. Pegula, who successfully defended her title in Canada on Monday, will face Paula Badosa.
Badosa beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-2.
“Paula is playing really good tennis,” Pegula said. “She’s looking back on the year and finding some form. She’s a top player.”
