Iga Swiatek survives tough examination against Mirra Andreeva to set up Sabalenka Cincinnati Open semi-final showdown

Saturday, 17 August 2024 at 20:55

World No.1 Iga Swiatek is through to the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Open for the second year in a row after coming from behind to defeat 17-year-old prodigy Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Swiatek was under the cosh early against Andreeva who is the fourth player younger than 18 to reach a WTA 1000 level Quarter-Final since the tournament tier debuted back in 2009.

She broke serve at 1-1 and kept her lead throughout the first set saving two break points in both the sixth and 10th game. Swiatek responded after being forced to. To begin the second set, she broke serve and didn't face a break point until the match's final game.

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Andreeva started to fire blanks when it came to the crunch moments, her return missed well long in trying to force a winner takes all tie-break and Swiatek wrapped it up to spare her blushes in two hours and 30 minutes.

Swiatek now sits at 10-0 in Quarter-Final matches during 2024 and the win was her 30th at WTA 1000 level this season. Only Serena Williams has won more in a single season over the past 15 years so very much elite company.

Next up is a crunch clash between Aryna Sabalenka who will become World No.2 again shortly and the World No.1. It is led by Swiatek 8-3 with the World No.1 winning 72.7% of their previous meetings. But it will anchor a semi-final line-up which as usual is fairly open on the other side.

Pegula-Fernandez and Badosa-Pavlyuchenkova sit on the other side of the draw facing off this evening and will meet one of the duo in the final so it is very much a top tie awaiting. Albeit in the case of Pegula, it would be a potentially warranted final given her recent form and ranking. The others have shown smatterings but haven't been consistent enough in recent months.

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#⃣3⃣0⃣ feels just right 😎 World No. 1 @iga_swiatek notches her 30th WTA 1000 win of the season, after a thrilling three set victory over rising star Andreeva! #CincyTennis

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5:51 PM · Aug 17, 2024

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