Iga Świątek eyes first Cincinnati final as she reaches the semifinals on hard courts
Iga Świątek says she feels comfortable on the hard courts in Cincinnati as she advanced to the semifinals for the third straight year. The Polish star defeated Anastasia Potapova, Sorana Cîrstea and Anna Kalinskaya to reach the last four, where she will face Jelena Rybakina on Sunday evening.
Świątek and Rybakina have faced each other nine times, with Świątek owning five of those matches. She has defeated Rybakina three times in 2025 alone, including wins at United Cup, WTA Doha and the French Open. Their most recent duel in Paris was a tough test for the Pole. Tennis.com’s analysts have even weighed in, predicting a potential fourth meeting between Świątek and Rybakina in 2025.
Rybakina’s game on faster, hard courts is often cited as a potential edge. She has defeated Świątek four times, with two of those victories coming on clay, underscoring her versatility. With that in mind, Rybakina arrives in solid form and equipped with the confidence needed for a big match.
Some tennis pundits also weighed in on the wider picture, suggesting Jasmine Paolini could reach the final and meet Rybakina. They noted Paolini’s strong performances across surfaces and her experience in major events, arguing there isn’t an obvious reason to favor one finalist over another—yet they ultimately pick Paolini to advance.
The Świątek–Rybakina semifinal is slated for Sunday, starting at 7:00 p.m. local time. Text live coverage will be available on Interia Sport. After the Pole and the Kazakh on court, it will be Paolini and Kudermetova who follow on the next court.
Context and outlook
– Świątek is chasing her first Cincinnati final after reaching the semifinals for the third consecutive year.
– Rybakina’s speed and power on hard courts make this a compelling clash of styles.
– A potential Paolini–Rybakina final has been floated by analysts, highlighting Paolini’s consistency and experience as a factor.
Summary
Świątek reinforced her strong hard-court form in Cincinnati by advancing to the semifinals, where she meets a familiar rival in Rybakina. The matchup promises a blend of Świątek’s all-court game against Rybakina’s aggressive baseline play, with a potential Paolini–Kudermetova follow-up on the horizon. If Świątek breaks through to the final, she would be aiming for her first Cincinnati title. Positive momentum and head-to-head context set up a gripping weekend of tennis for fans.
Additional note
If you’re covering this for a WordPress post, consider adding a short player comparison graphic highlighting return games, first-serve percentage, and break-point conversion from their recent meetings to give readers quick, at-a-glance context for the semifinal.