Aryna Sabalenka downs Ons Jabeur as Coco Gauff sets up Iga Swiatek semi in Cincinnati after defeating Jasmine Paolini
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Updated 19/08/2023 at 08:07 GMT
Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka defeated Ons Jabeur in straight sets, 7-5 6-3 in the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open in Ohio on Friday, as the Tunisian struggled with a leg injury. Elsewhere, America's Coco Gauff set up a semi-final with women's tennis world No. 1 Iga Swiatek as she secured her own victory against Italian qualifier Jasmine Paolini.
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Aryna Sabalenka beat Ons Jabeur 7-5 6-3 in the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals, while Coco Gauff defeated Jasmine Paolini to set up a semi-final with Iga Swiatek.
The 25-year-old Belarusian will face Karolina Muchova, who moved past Marie Bouzkova after her opponent retired as a result of a thigh injury.
Sabalenka was 5-3 up in the first set, and served to close it out before Jabeur broke back to level at 5-5, only for Sabalenka to break the Tunisian once more to take the first set 7-5.
Jabeur broke again and moved 3-1 up, but had to call for the trainer as she needed treatment for a problem on her right leg and foot. It appeared the discomfort hampered her upon her return and she served up two double-faults to give up a break.
Sabalenka then took another four games consecutively to win the second, decisive set.
"Super happy to get this win back," Sabalenka said after the match. “At the same time I'm a little bit sad for Ons. I really hope she'll recover fast and she'll be ready for the US Open."
Gauff defeated Italian qualifier Paolini 6-3 6-2 to set up a semi-final with current World No. 1 Swiatek.
Paolini is ranked No. 43 in the world but could only resist her opponent for 72 minutes.
"Really happy with how I was able to play today," Gauff said after her victory. "She's not an easy opponent. Last time I played her we had a long three-set match. So I'm happy to get it in in straight sets today."
Gauff added: "I don't have a good track record against [Swiatek].
"I feel like the [2023] French Open match that I played her, even though it was a straight-sets score line, I think I made some improvements against her since the last time I played her.
"I'm just really going to go out there and continue to follow the plan that I've been doing in the last couple of my matches. ... I do feel a lot more confident going into it tomorrow. But she's not an easy opponent to play, especially against me. I think I really just got to take it point by point and try to stay mentally engaged every ball."
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