CINCINNATI : Jessica Pegula overcame defending champion Iga Swiatek to set up an all-American Cincinnati Open final against Coco Gauff, while Frances Tiafoe will face Frenchman Arthur Fils in the men’s title decider.
World number three Pegula battled past seventh seed Swiatek 7-5 4-6 6-4 in a marathon semi-final lasting two hours and 47 minutes.
The American took control of the opening set after breaking for a 3-2 lead, but Swiatek fought back to level at 4-4. Pegula regained the advantage at 6-5 and sealed the set when the Pole missed a return before sending an overhead into the net.
Swiatek raised her level in the second set, breaking for a 4-2 lead. Pegula recovered to level at 4-4, but the six-time Grand Slam champion forced a decider when Pegula missed a forehand return.
Swiatek moved 3-1 ahead in the third set, but Pegula refused to surrender. She levelled at 4-4, broke again in the next game and served out the match.
“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 meet two-time Grand Slam champion Gauff, who dispatched Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek 6-4 6-1 in 76 minutes.
Gauff established a 4-1 lead in the opening set before Bejlek fought back to level at 4-4. The 22-year-old American responded by breaking again and closing out the set.
Bejlek, playing her first WTA 1000 semi-final after a string of upsets, struggled to contain Gauff in the second set. The American broke twice and capitalised on her opponent’s errors to complete a comfortable victory.
FILS, TIAFOE SET FOR MEN’S FINAL
In the men’s draw, Frenchman Fils defeated seventh seed Flavio Cobolli 6-3 6-4 in 67 minutes to extend his winning streak to five matches.
Cobolli broke first for a 2-1 lead, but Fils immediately levelled before breaking again in the eighth game to take the opening set.
The 22-year-old, who won the Barcelona Open in April, broke in the opening game of the second set and dictated play with his forehand to seal victory, hitting 22 winners and six aces.
Fils, a four-time ATP Tour champion, will face American Tiafoe, who defeated compatriot Brandon Nakashima 7-5 6-3.
The Americans traded four consecutive breaks before Tiafoe held to love for a 4-3 lead. He broke again at 5-5 and served out the opening set.
The 27-year-old then broke Nakashima for a 3-2 lead in the second set before holding to love to complete the victory.
The Cincinnati titles will be decided on Sunday, with Pegula and Gauff bidding to become the first American women’s champion since Serena Williams won the tournament in 2015.
