MASON, OH − The Cincinnati Open women’s singles final matchup is set.

It will be a matchup of two Top 10 seeds on Centre Court of the Lindner Family Tennis Center aug. 18 when No. 3 seed Iga Swiatek faces No. 7 Jasmine Paolini for the Rookwood Cup (not before 6 p.m.).

Swiatek, the former World No. 1 and a mainstay atop the WTA rankings,knocked out Elena Rybakina in straight sets,7-5,6-3. She tied Elina Svitolina for the 11th-most career WTA 1000 wins (119) and is searching for her 11th title.

Paolini earned a hard-fought semifinal win over unseeded Veronika Kudermetova, 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-3. Paolini, the World No.9, is searching for her third career WTA 1000 title.

Iga Swiatek, left, and Elena Rybakina, right, shake hands at the conclusion of their match, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Oh. Swiatek won 7-5, 6-3.

There’s no secret who the favorite will be. Swiatek is 5-0 all-time against Paolini,with only one match going three sets (Spain in 2024). The two last met earlier this year in Germany with Swiatek cruising, 6-1, 6-3.

“it’s been really tough again

Swiatek Powers Past Rybakina,Advances to Cincinnati Open Final

Iga Swiatek demonstrated her dominance,defeating Elena Rybakina in the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open and securing her place in the final. Swiatek overcame a strong start from Rybakina to win 7-5, 6-3, showcasing her exceptional court coverage and aggressive play.

The first set was a back-and-forth battle. Rybakina initially gained the upper hand, breaking Swiatek’s serve to lead 5-3. However, Swiatek responded with remarkable resilience, winning four consecutive games and breaking Rybakina twice to close out the set 7-5. This shift in momentum proved crucial.

“It was a great match. In the beginning, I was surprised that I was able to keep up with the pace,” Swiatek said. “I just wanted to be there when elena started making mistakes because I think it’s unfeasible to play at such a good level throughout the whole match. I’m happy that I was there.”

Swiatek continued to dictate play in the second set,relentlessly attacking and forcing errors from Rybakina. She quickly established a 4-1 lead, capitalizing on her opponent’s struggles to maintain consistency. Despite facing two break points in the seventh game, Swiatek held her serve and confidently closed out the set 6-3.

statistically, Swiatek’s performance was notable. She won 78% of points on her first serve and 67% on her second serve, considerably outperforming Rybakina’s 48% second serve percentage. This strong serving performance, combined with her aggressive return game, proved to be a winning formula.

With this victory, Swiatek qualified for the WTA Finals and remains undefeated in sets played at this year’s Cincinnati open. She is now one win away from claiming her 11th career WTA 1000 title.

Rybakina,seeking her third WTA 1000 title,was appearing in her first career semifinal in Cincinnati. She had previously defeated the reigning champion and World No. 1 in an earlier round.

Key Takeaways

• Swiatek’s resilience and ability to respond after falling behind in the first set were key to her victory.
• Swiatek’s superior serving statistics significantly contributed to her success.
• Swiatek remains undefeated in the tournament and is poised to win her 11th WTA 1000 title.

Looking Ahead: Swiatek will now face the winner of the other semifinal match in the Cincinnati Open final. Her current form suggests she is a strong favorite to lift the trophy, further solidifying her position as one of the top players in women’s tennis.