Rybakina injury reshapes Cincinnati Masters field ahead of US Open
World number two Elena Rybakina’s withdrawal due to a heel injury has cleared the path for Iga Swiatek to face Jessica Pegula in the semifinals, raising questions about the former’s fitness for the upcoming major.
Iga Swiatek has secured a place in the Cincinnati Masters semifinals after world number two Elena Rybakina retired from their quarterfinal match with a heel injury. The Kazakh player withdrew while trailing 4-1 in the opening set, ending her campaign less than 30 minutes into the contest.
Rybakina’s exit has immediate implications for the global rankings and the lead-up to the US Open, which commences in New York on 30 August. Had the two-time Grand Slam winner reached the Cincinnati final, she would have ascended to the world number one spot for the first time in her career, following the earlier elimination of incumbent leader Aryna Sabalenka.
Swiatek, the defending champion at the event, will now face Jessica Pegula in the final four. The Polish player noted that health remains the priority for her rival, acknowledging the significance of the upcoming major despite the disappointment of the injury.
Pegula reached the semifinals by defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4). The 32-year-old American became the fourth player since 2009 to reach five or more Masters 1000 quarterfinals after turning 30, joining a list that includes Li Na, Serena Williams, and Svetlana Kuznetsova.
In the men’s draw, Flavio Cobolli advanced to the semifinals with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Tommy Paul. Cobolli, the Roland Garros runner-up, overcame an opening set loss to defeat a player who had eliminated top seed Alexander Zverev just 24 hours prior.
Cobolli will face Arthur Fils in the final four. The Frenchman reached the semifinals by defeating Thiago Tirante 6-3, 6-2 in 64 minutes, marking the shortest men’s match of the tournament. Fils becomes the eighth Frenchman to reach the Cincinnati semifinals in the Open Era.
