The Cincinnati Open heads towards its conclusion on Saturday with the four semi-finals over ATP and WTA. The schedule has been confirmed and as ever, TennisUpToDate will preview the action.

Will there be the dream final in both ATP and WTA or will two outsiders spoil the party? As ever, we run through the main talking points and the Head to Heads between the players.

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Swiatek-Gauff and Muchova-Sabalenka kick off schedule

After being scheduled late in Montreal and many WTA players rallying behind Elena Rybakina among others, the WTA players will kick off proceedings on Saturday evening.

It all begins with Iga Swiatek who will face Coco Gauff. An interesting proposition given that the Pole's unbeaten record was compared to that of Djokovic-Monfils (19-0) against the American.

Seven matches lost so far for Gauff. She has also lost 14 sets overall with two bagels and two breadsticks (terms for 6-0, 6-1) along the route. It will be her eighth attempt this time around with Swiatek being the foe also in all of her main semi-finals on tour. Continuity unfortunately for Gauff.

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Then it is the turn of Aryna Sabalenka who could book a dream final between the top two in the world. But facing her is a player who had the same task in Paris and took her down.

That being Karolina Muchova who in theory will have the better preparation. She went 3-0 up against Marie Bouzkova before as ever this week, a retirement occurred.

Sabalenka played late against Ons Jabeur winning 7-5, 6-3 so could play into the Czech's hands. Czechmate so to speak.

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Alcaraz-Hurkacz and Zverev-Djokovic set for ATP semi-finals

Another dream final potentially would also see the top players in the world and also a rematch from Wimbledon in the form of Carlos Alcaraz - Novak Djokovic.

A highly debated game in the aftermath, Alcaraz has played since but not looked 100% comfortable. While Djokovic with his stop start schedule has taken to it well.

Two players though will look to put a cork in the bottle and those being Hubert Hurkacz. He is up first against Alcaraz. It is a 2-0 Head to Head record for the Spaniard and the interesting point is that they've only played recently.

Back in Toronto last week where Alcaraz won 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 in two tight deciding sets. But will it be the same here or can the Pole spring a shock and maybe join Swiatek in the final.

While the second semi-final sees a first meeting since 2021. Novak Djokovic will face Alexander Zverev. They played astonishingly five times that year, but have failed to face off since.

It is 7-4 in favour of Djokovic. He outclassed Taylor Fritz in the Quarter-Finals, while Adrian Mannarino was the defeated player for Zverev. But who prevails and reaches the final in two semi-finals that feasibly while having favourites could go either way.

2023 Cincinnati Open Schedule