Elena Rybakina was compelled to withdraw from her quarter‑final clash with Iga Swiatek at the Cincinnati Open after sustaining an ankle problem that forced her to retire from the match. The Russian, who sits at world No. 2, was trailing 4‑1 when she called for a medical timeout.
Trainers attended to her left ankle, but the injury proved too severe for her to continue, and she conceded the match shortly thereafter. Rybakina's exit had immediate ranking implications. With top‑seed Aryna Sabalenka having been upset by Sara Bejlek earlier in the day, the Kazakh‑born player stood on the brink of overtaking the No.
1 spot. Had she been able to fight her way into the final, the points she would have earned could have propelled her to the summit of the WTA rankings.
Swiatek, the defending champion in Cincinnati, has demonstrated remarkable consistency at the venue, reaching at least the semifinals in each of her last four appearances. After Rybakina’s retirement, the Polish star advanced to the semifinals where she will now meet American Jessica Pegula, the world No. 3, who earned her place by rallying from a set down to defeat Amanda Anisimova 6‑4, 2‑6, 7‑6(4).
Reflecting on the abrupt end to the quarter‑final, Swiatek said, "It’s not the way you want a match to finish. She didn’t look good, obviously. Then she wanted treatment and I wasn’t sure if she was going to be back or not.
She is walking normally now. I felt really sorry for her but hopefully it’s nothing serious and she will be ready for the US Open." The Polish champion’s comments underscored both her empathy for a fellow competitor and her optimism that Rybakina will recover in time for the upcoming Grand Slam in New York. Rybakina’s injury, while disappointing for fans, does not diminish the quality of her performance throughout the tournament; she had been playing aggressive baseline tennis and had already shown the depth of her game before the ankle trouble forced her out. Pegula, who has been a steady presence in the upper echelons of the women’s game, will now test Swiatek’s form in what promises to be a high‑stakes semifinal.
Their previous encounter at this event took place last year, when Swiatek dispatched Pegula in straight sets to claim the title. This time, however, the American will be eager to reverse that result and secure her first Cincinnati Open final appearance.
On the men’s side of the draw, seventh seed Flavio Cobolli staged a comeback after a shaky start, defeating American Tommy Paul 2‑6, 6‑3, 6‑4 to reach his inaugural ATP Masters 1000 semifinal. Cobolli’s resurgence came after he had been down a set and needed to find his rhythm against a seasoned opponent. His next opponent will be France’s rising star Arthur Fils, who earned his spot in the semifinal by beating Argentina’s Thiago Agustín Tirante 6‑3, 6‑2.
The Cincinnati Open continues to serve as a crucial warm‑up for the US Open, offering players a chance to fine‑tune their games on hard courts similar to those they will encounter in Flushing Meadows. Both the WTA and ATP events have attracted strong fields this year, and the tournament’s results will likely influence seedings and confidence heading into the final Grand Slam of the season.
Fans can follow live scores, match highlights, and in‑depth analysis on Sky Sports, which provides comprehensive coverage of both tours. For those who prefer streaming, the NOW platform offers contract‑free access to live tennis, including the upcoming US Open starting on August 30. In summary, the women’s semifinal will feature a clash between the defending champion Iga Swiatek and world No.
3 Jessica Pegula, while the men’s side will see Flavio Cobolli take on Arthur Fils for a coveted spot in the final. Both matches promise high‑quality tennis and will be key indicators of form as the season moves toward its climax at the US Open.