Cincinnati Open: Sabalenka Ousted by Rybakina, Gauff Exits After Paolini Triumph
World number 1 Aryna Sabalenka and second-ranked Coco Gauff were knocked out of the Cincinnati Open on Friday, losing to Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini, respectively.
Top seed and defending champion Sabalenka suffered a 6-1, 6-4 defeat at the hands of 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina, while American Gauff was ousted by Italian Paolini, who came back from a set down to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. Gauff also committed 16 double faults during the match.
Rybakina served 11 aces to secure her fifth career win over Sabalenka in 12 meetings, avenging a loss to the Belarusian in Berlin two months ago. She now faces Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals, after Swiatek defeated Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-4.
“I’m happy with my serve. It was the key today,” Rybakina said. “I served really well. If she had been serving well, it would have been a totally different match.”
Rybakina has now won her last three encounters against Swiatek this season. Meanwhile, Swiatek expressed confidence after her victory over Kalinskaya, calling it “the best match I played here.” She added, “I’m happy that I’m progressing during the tournament.”
Coco Gauff, the 2023 Cincinnati champion, appeared in control after a quick first set against Paolini. However, her errors caught up with her as she was broken eight times by the Italian. Paolini overcame multiple mistakes and a twisted ankle suffered early in the third set.
“It was tough at the start; I was running and trying to keep the ball inside the court,” said Paolini. “I started to feel the ball better. I fought for every point and stayed in the match.”
Paolini will now face Veronika Kudermetova for a place in the final after Kudermetova defeated Varvara Gracheva 6-1, 6-2.
