Pegula dethrones Swiatek to book Cincinnati final against Gauff

What the report says

Jessica Pegula advanced to the Cincinnati Masters final after rallying past defending champion Iga Swiatek in a three-set semifinal, setting up an all-American title match against Coco Gauff. Al Jazeera, citing AFP, reported that Pegula won 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday in Cincinnati after a match marked by windy conditions, rain delays and frequent breaks of serve. The world number three said she had to manage a chaotic contest that lasted nearly three hours.

Gauff, the 2023 Cincinnati champion, reached the final by defeating unseeded Czech player Sara Bejlek 6-4, 6-1. Bejlek had impressed earlier in the tournament with a fourth-round upset of top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka. The women’s final will be played on Sunday night, adding a high-profile U.S. showdown to the event.

The men’s side of the tournament also produced a notable final pairing. American Frances Tiafoe beat fellow American Brandon Nakashima 7-5, 6-3 to return to the Cincinnati title match, while Arthur Fils of France advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Flavio Cobolli. Al Jazeera reported that Fils’ match was delayed by rain and lightning.

The results leave Cincinnati with two headline finals and, in the women’s draw, a fresh champion in Pegula replacing Swiatek. More broadly, the tournament is part of the late-summer North American hard-court swing that often serves as a key lead-in to the US Open.