Iga Swiatek Reaches Cincinnati Semis After Rybakina Retires

Iga Swiatek advanced to the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Masters after Elena Rybakina retired with a heel injury less than half an hour into their quarter-final on Thursday. Rybakina was trailing 4-1 in the opening set when the match ended, sending defending champion Swiatek through to face Jessica Pegula.

The retirement also created concern around Rybakina’s fitness with the US Open due to begin in New York on August 30. The Kazakh world number two had been pursuing a place in the Cincinnati final that would have put her in position to become world number one for the first time in her career.

Rybakina pulled up at 40-all while behind in the opening set, went to her bench and spoke with the trainer. She returned to the court and played one further point before deciding she could not continue.

Swiatek said she had been anxious as she watched the situation unfold and stressed that Rybakina’s health had to come first. The Polish player added that the pair had been having a good match before the injury ended the contest.

Swiatek through as US Open approaches

For Swiatek, the result continues a productive spell heading into the final major of the season. She said she had gained confidence in recent weeks, a period that included her victory over Rybakina in the final of the Toronto event earlier this month.

The defending Cincinnati champion said she felt great and was ready to play her game. Her progress in Cincinnati gives her another opportunity to build momentum before the US Open, while Rybakina’s withdrawal puts the focus on whether she will be ready for the tournament in New York.

Rybakina’s route to the top ranking had already been affected by Aryna Sabalenka’s surprise defeat to 20-year-old Sara Bejlek. A run to the Cincinnati final would have given Rybakina the chance to rise to number one, but her quarter-final ended abruptly after only a brief appearance on court.

Swiatek will now meet Pegula, who reached the semi-finals after beating Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4). Pegula claimed the first set in 34 minutes, but sixth-seeded Anisimova responded strongly in the second set, breaking three times and earning a double break for 4-0.

Pegula regrouped after the match was level at one set apiece and opened the deciding set with a break. The contest remained tight, with both players broken twice before the tiebreak. Pegula converted her first match point in the breaker to complete the win.

Pegula sets up semi-final meeting

The win was Pegula’s sixth without a loss against Anisimova. At age 32, Pegula is also setting a WTA benchmark as the fourth player since 2009 to reach five or more Masters 1000 quarter-finals after turning 30. Li Na, Serena Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova are the other players named alongside her in that group.

Pegula said her record against Anisimova was positive but noted that their matches were consistently difficult. Her three-set win ensures that the next Cincinnati semi-final will feature Swiatek against an opponent who recovered from a demanding quarter-final.

Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Flavio Cobolli came from behind to beat Tommy Paul 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 and reach the final four. Cobolli will play Arthur Fils, who defeated Thiago Tirante 6-3, 6-2 in 64 minutes, the shortest men’s match of the event.

But the immediate women’s focus is on Swiatek’s semi-final and Rybakina’s recovery. Swiatek remains in contention to retain her Cincinnati title, while Rybakina faces an uncertain build-up to the US Open after her heel problem forced an early end to a significant quarter-final.