Tennis-Swiatek downs Rybakina, faces Paolini in Cincinnati Open final

Aug 17, 2025; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Iga Swiatek (POL) returns a shot against Elena Rybakina (KAZ) during the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

(Reuters) -A ruthless Iga Swiatek won 10 of the last 13 games to beat Elena Rybakina 7-5 6-3 on Sunday and reach her first Cincinnati Open final after losing in the penultimate stage of the U.S. Open tune-up event in each of the last two years.

In the other semi-final, Italy's Jasmine Paolini was a 6-3 6-7(2) 6-3 winner over unseeded Russian Veronika Kudermetova.