Swiatek rallies past Rybakina to reach first Cincinnati final

Third seed Iga Swiatek finally cracked the Cincinnati Open code, edging Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3 to book her first final in Mason, Ohio. After falling behind 3-5 in the opener, Swiatek stormed through four straight games—and 10 of the last 13 overall—behind seven aces and an 81.6% win rate on first serve. “It was a tough match… we played so fast that sometimes we couldn’t run to the second ball,” she said, pleased with how her focus held in the key patches.

Paolini outlasts Kudermetova to set Monday night showdown

No. 7 seed Jasmine Paolini kept swinging through a turbulent middle stanza and came out on top, beating Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-3. The Italian saved 5 of 6 break points and steadied herself after missing a chance to serve out the match in the second set. Kudermetova’s firepower (10 aces, 31 winners) was undercut by 75 unforced errors and four double faults, while Paolini kept the scoreboard moving with timely holds and a three-game burst to seize a 5-2 lead in the decider.

Final preview: Swiatek vs. Paolini, with history on Iga’s side

Swiatek will chase a second title in three events against an opponent she’s beaten five times in five meetings. She arrives with momentum—fresh off that Wimbledon trophy and a deep run this week—while Paolini searches for her second title of the season after Rome. If you’re sizing up the matchup from a wagering angle, it’s a good spot to brush up on 5 important tips for betting on tennis and, with the US Open just days away, skim US Open tennis betting tips for form and fatigue cues that also apply here.

Cleveland Open: Seeds tumble as first round delivers shocks

Opening day at “Tennis in the Land” brought a string of upsets. Germany’s Eva Lys toppled No. 3 seed Maya Joint 6-4, 6-4, and Argentina’s Solana Sierra clawed past No. 6 Sonay Kartal 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2). American 17-year-old Iva Jovic made the biggest splash, creating 14 break chances and converting five to defeat No. 4 Anastasia Potapova 7-5, 6-3. Elsewhere, Anastasia Zakharova rallied to beat Kimberly Birrell 5-7, 6-4, 6-3; Polina Kudermetova downed Katrina Scott 6-4, 6-4; and Ann Li closed strong, winning the last three games to oust Yuliia Starodubtseva 7-5, 6-3.