Sabalenka needs 10 MPs to defeat Swiatek

Aryna Sabalenka broke through 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday to reach a first career final at the Cincinnati Masters after opponent Iga Swiatek saved nine match points.

The four-time semi-finalist here will rise to second in the WTA rankings with a week to go before the start of the US Open. 

World number one Swiatek put up a huge battle in the closing stages of a match occasionally delayed as ballkids wiped down the lines with towels due to persistent passing raindrops.

Sabalenka held a lead of a set and 5-1 and dropped serve before finally breaking Swiatek to conclude as she finally converted on her 10th match-winning chance, a return winner after nearly two hours of play.

“I finally broke the barrier,” Sabalenka said of her long-sought place in the final.. 

“It was such a tough battle with Iga, and we also had to be patient with the weather.

“On the match points I just had to tell myself that this is why she’s world number one and will fight to the last point. I just had to keep doing the job  and hopefully win.”

The victory served as revenge for Sabalenka, who lost Masters-level clay finals to Swiatek in Madrid and Rome last spring.