By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 15, 2025
Picture credit score: Cincinnati Open Fb
The ball burst like a battering ram staggering Aryna Sabalenka backward.
Elena Rybakina rocked the world No. 1 with heavy drives and rolled Sabalenka proper out of the draw 6-1, 6-4 to cost into her first Cincinnati Open semifinal.
Rybakina ripped 11 aces in opposition to one double faulted and denied all 5 break factors she confronted, defeating Sabalenka for the fifth time in 12 conferences.
This rematch of the 2023 Australian Open ultimate, which Sabalenka gained in three units, was essentially the most lopsided final result between the premier energy gamers since Rybakina blasted the Belarusian 6-0, 6-3 within the 2024 Brisbane ultimate.
That was a Rybakina MASTERCLASS 🤩
Elena Rybakina knocks out defending champion Sabalenka 6-1, 6-4.#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/J03v3ncKUR
— wta (@WTA) August 15, 2025
Disarming the US Open champion with depth and jolting energy, Rybakina scored her second straight High 10 and made a press release of intent forward of this month’s US Open. Rybakina improved to 7-5 lifetime vs. world No. 1 gamers scoring her first win over a No. 1 since beating Sabalenka on the 2024 WTA Finals.
The ninth-seeded Rybakina will face former No. 1 Iga Swiatek for a spot within the ultimate.
The 24-year-old Swiatek transformed her fifth match level finishing a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Anna Kalinskaya to grow to be the youngest girl in Open Period historical past to advance to a few consecutive Cincinnati semifinals.
4 – Elena Rybakina has equalled Petra Kvitova and Aryna Sabalenka (4) for essentially the most wins in opposition to the World No.1 in WTA-1000 for the reason that format introduction in 2009. Stellar. #CincyTennis | @CincyTennis @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/LcqYTuSjCS
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) August 15, 2025
Whipping the vast serve to displace Sabalenka, Rybakina gained 29 of 36 first-serve factors right this moment. Rybakina managed the crosscourt forehand exchanges and blistered backhands to maintain the highest seed on the defensive for many of her service video games.
A targeted Rybakina saved a break level within the opening sport and was practically untouchable on serve for the remainder of the set.
After Sablenka held to degree, Rybakina shifted into a better gear. She stormed by 5 video games in a row, belting 4 aces in opposition to no double faults and generally freezing Sabalenka with backhand drives down the road.
4 video games into the match, Rybakina torched her two-hander down the road for break level and broke on a Sabalenka backhand error for 3-1.
The WTA ace chief whipped the vast ace that helped her stamp a love maintain for a 4-1 lead after a mere 20 minutes of play.
Enjoying with calm command, Rybakina was 9 of 9 on first-serve factors and saved the lone break level she confronted in an assertive 28-minute opening set.
The previous Wimbledon winner reeled off 16 of the final 18 factors constructing a one-set lead as each ladies left the court docket earlier than the beginning of the second set.
Rybakina repelled two break factors then slashed successive aces holding to degree the second set, 1-all.
That agency stand sparked the following break. Rybakina drew an error for double break level then blasted her backhand down the road to interrupt for 2-1.
The highest seed threatened serve in opposition to within the eighth sport incomes a few break factors. Rybakina erased each break factors with aces—her tenth and eleventh aces of the quarterfinals—then held for 5-3 when Sabalenka, with a superb take a look at open court docket, missed a excessive forehand.
Serving for the match, Rybakina drew 4 errors in a row slamming shut a powerful 75-minute triumph together with her fourth love maintain of the day.
