Elena Rybakina crushed world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-1 6-4 to set up a semi-final with Iga Swiatek.
The former Wimbledon champion produced a flawless serving performance to cruise past an error-prone Sabalenka.
After a crushing opening set, Sabalenka aimed to mount a comeback but couldn’t produce any consistency and ultimately fell to a ruthless Rybakina.
Now Sabalenka’s Cincinnati title defence is over, focus now turns to avoiding a similar fate at the US Open.
As for Rybakina, the Kazakh will now face Iga Swiatek in the last four in what should be an incredible match.
After her contest over Sabalenka, Rybakina praised her recent form as she cruised into the last four, “I’m happy with the serve. It was the key today,” Rybakina told the Associated Press.
“I served really well. If she had been serving well it would have been a totally different match. It was also intense from the baseline. I just hope to continue like this.”
Now Rybakina will take on current Wimbledon champion Swiatek who defeated Anna Kalinskaya 6-3 6-4 on a boiling hot day in Ohio with the match lasting 90 minutes.
Swiatek currently leads the head-to-head 5-4 heading into Saturday’s showdown with the Pole winning both meetings this year.
