The Cincinnati Open will host its first all-American women's final in 56 years after Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula won their respective semi-finals. Fourth seed Gauff cruised home in her clash with Sara Bejlek, eclipsing the Czech 6-4 6-1, while third seed Pegula earned her spot by toppling defending champion Iga Swiatek 7-5 4-6 6-4. The last Cincinnati Open final to feature two American women came in 1970 when Rosie Casals defeated Nancy Richey.
Fellow American Frances Tiafoe also reached the men's final, where he will face France's Arthur Fils. Pegula rallied from a break down in the deciding set to defeat six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek in her semi-final. World No 3 Pegula and seventh seed Swiatek traded breaks early in the opening set before rain briefly interrupted play with the score level at 1-1.
Swiatek clawed her way back, breaking to level at 4-4 before moving ahead, but with the set locked at 5-5, Pegula capitalised on a Swiatek double fault to break for 6-5 before the Pole sent the simplest of smashes into the net to hand Pegula the opener. In the second set, Swiatek was more aggressive, breaking in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. Pegula broke back and managed to level the contest, but the former world No 1 levelled things up when Pegula missed a forehand return.
Pegula refused to fade after Swiatek moved 3-1 ahead in the decider. The American levelled at 4-4, earned the decisive break in the next game and then served out for a memorable victory. "It was a really tough match.
She (Swiatek) is in great form. To beat someone who is such a great athlete like Iga in the semis and to make it to another 1000 final, it's awesome," Pegula said. She will face Gauff in the final after the two-time Grand Slam winner made light work of unseeded Czech Bejlek in the last four.
The 20-year-old had stunned world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Madison Keys en route to booking her first WTA 1000 semi-final spot. Gauff proved superior in the opening set, earning a 4-1 lead after breaking serve early on. However, Bejlek managed to stay in contention and level at 4-4.
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