Aryna Sabalenka defeated world number one Iga Swiatek for the first time this season to reach the Cincinnati Open final.

The pair had met twice before in 2024, in the finals of the Madrid Open and the Italian Open, but Sabalenka had lost both.

On Sunday, after failing to convert nine match points, Belarusian Sabalenka, who will become the world number two on Monday, finally got the better of her rival 6-3 6-3.

The match was also the first time Sabalenka, 26, had beaten Swiatek, 23, in straight sets.

“It sounds like I broke the wall finally,” Sabalenka, who is now in her first Cincinnati Open final, said when asked how being a finalist sounded.

“I’m super happy. After such a tough battle against Iga, I’m super happy with the win.”

She will play Jessica Pegula in Monday’s final after the American beat Spain’s Paula Badosa 6-2 3-6 6-3 in the other semi-final.

Pegula has won her last nine matches and victory over Sabalenka would secure the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open double after she triumphed in Montreal last week.