World No. 1s Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek stage Cincinnati quarter-final comebacks

CINCINNATI – Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek showed why they are both No. 1 in the world, as they turned around losing situations on Aug 17 to move into the semi-finals of the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Open.

Italy’s Sinner prevented his Russian rival Andrey Rublev from repeating a triumph from Aug 10 in Montreal, as he defeated the sixth seed in a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 fightback.

Polish star Swiatek did the same, as she worked to overcome Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Sinner took to the court for only his second match of the week after a first-round bye and a walkover on Aug 16.

But the 23-year-old – whose fitness has been compromised in recent months by a hip niggle, illness and the tonsillitis which forced him to miss the Olympic Games in Paris – stormed back to win the second set and break to start the third.

He clinched victory in a set where five of the 10 games were breaks of serve. His match-point ball was caught by a gust of wind and put out of the reach of Rublev.

“There was a lot of mental strength required today,” said Sinner, who took on Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the last four on Aug 18 – the match started after press time.

“It was tough conditions, very, very windy. In the first set I didn’t play my best tennis. In the second I improved and was able to wait for my chances. I was happy to win today.”

He ended with 31 winners, including 10 aces, while Rublev, the runner-up in Canada to Alexei Popyrin, committed 47 unforced errors.

The other semi-final will see Frances Tiafoe take on Holger Rune.

Swiatek grabbed a break in the penultimate game of a match lasting more than 2½ hours to finally advance past Andreeva at the tune-up event for the US Open.

She moved through on her first match point, her opponent driving a return long, and won a 30th match this season at the WTA 1000 level.

“It was a tight match. Every point matters at the end. It was not easy for sure,” Swiatek said.

“We were both kind of rusty at the beginning of the third set after the mandatory WTA heat break. Even though I’m pretty experienced, I didn’t have a lot of occasions to have this break. I don’t think it was helpful. But that’s the rule.”

She added that after losing the opening set to the 17-year-old Andreeva, she needed a change of tactics.

“I knew I could not play in the same way. I needed to put more pressure on her,” the Pole said.

“I played more proactive and had a better idea of what I needed to do. The same rhythm (as the first set) would not be enough. I changed things and felt the results right away.”

In the third set, the top seed secured the last-minute break for a 6-5 lead and raised her hands in victory as Andreeva returned over the baseline a game later on her first match point.

Swiatek will play Aryna Sabalenka, a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Liudmila Samsonova, on Aug 18 for a place in the final. The result of the semi-final clash was also unavailable at press time. The other match was between Jessica Pegula and Paula Badosa.

“I’m really happy to get this win in straight sets,” Sabalenka said of her win.

“It wasn’t as easy as it looks from the score point of view. It was a tough one.”

The Belarusian, who reached her fourth Cincinnati semi-final – and third in a row – will take over the WTA second ranking spot from American Coco Gauff heading into the US Open start on Aug 26.

She is working to win her first title since repeating as Australian Open champion in January in Melbourne. AFP