Iga Swiatek believes the courts used at the Cincinnati Open are slower than in previous years, which has helped her break new ground at the WTA 1000 event.
The current Wimbledon champion is through to her first final at the tournament after beating Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3, in the semi-finals on Sunday. Swiatek, who is yet to drop a set in Cincinnati this year, has secured her spot in the WTA Finals later this year as a result of her latest run. Should she win the title, she will return to No.2 in the world.
Reflecting on her victory over Rybakina, Swiatek admitted that the court speed in previous years has been a problem for her in Cincinnati.
“I think the surface was pretty crazy, and now it’s something that you can play tennis on,” Swiatek said during her press conference. “So now it’s a bit slower, and it makes more sense. And yeah, also this year, I feel like I’m just progressing match by match. Past years I feel like the matches have been tough, like from the beginning. So I just feel a bit different.”
Swiatek isn’t the only player to notice a change in speed. In the men’s draw, Alexander Zverev said after his opening win that ‘Cincinnati was a very fast tournament, but it’s extremely slow now.’
Swiatek is closing in on claiming her 11th WTA 1000 title and her first since Rome last year. In the final, she will play Jasmine Paolini, whom she leads 5-0 in their head-to-head. However, the Italian is 2-0 in the WTA 1000 finals.
“I think she’s moving really well and she has improved her serve and mentally, she’s there every point. So she’s a really tough opponent,” Paolini said of Swiatek after beating Veronika Kudermetova 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-3.
“It’s going to be a challenge. I’m going to try to do my best, to serve well, to start the point being aggressive, and we’ll try to make a good match
“I need my level to be high and I have to also focus on myself and what I have to do well.“
Should Swiatek beat Paolini, she will claim her 13th hardcourt WTA title and her 24th overall.
