Swiatek set semifinal clash with Sabalenka in Cincinnati

Iga Swiatek notched into her 30th WTA 1000 win of the season, after a thrilling three set victory over rising star Mirra Andreeva on Saturday at the Cincinnati Open.

The 23-year-old pole prevailed over the 17-year-old Ukrainian who had a campaign to remember after defeating defending champion Coco Gauff in the previous round.

Swiatek defeated Mirra Andreeva in Saturday’s first quarterfinal, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, to book her spot in the semifinals where she will next face world no.2 Aryna Sabalenka.

Swiatek has won eight of her 11 prior matches against Sabalenka, including both matches this year in the finals of Madrid and Rome. They last played on hard courts in the semifinals of the WTA Finals — also won by Swiatek — but haven’t played at a hard-court tournament that isn’t the season-ending championships since they dueled in the semifinals of the 2022 US Open, which Swiatek also won from a set down.

Swiatek is now 10-0 in quarterfinal matches in 2024 — and the win was her 30th at a WTA 1000 this season. Only Serena Williams (36, 2013) has won more matches at that level in a single season in the last 15 years.