:Coco Gauff beat world number one Iga Swiatek for the first time in eight meetings on Saturday to advance to the Cincinnati Open final as the American teenager's level continues to rise ahead of the U.S.
Open. Gauff, seeded seventh, will be the heavy favorite in Sunday's final when she faces unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova, who beat a misfiring world number two Aryna Sabalenka 6-7(4) 6-3 6-2.
Gauff served big and played sensational defense en route to a 7-6(2) 3-6 6-4 win over the 22-year-old Pole, leaping into the air and pounding her chest as the crowd erupted after she secured the hard-fought victory. "I knew playing her was going to be tough, nothing was going to be given to me today," she told Tennis Channel. "I took my opportunities when I got them and just fought for every point.
I was a little negative in the second set but I got it back and I was just telling myself, 'You're a warrior, you can do this.' "This shows that I can do it.