Pegula dethrones Swiatek, sets up Cincinnati final vs. Gauff

CINCINNATI, Ohio: Jessica Pegula rallied from a break down in the deciding set to topple defending champion Iga Swiatek 7-5 4-6 6-4 and reach the Cincinnati Open ​final on Saturday, while Arthur Fils beat Flavio Cobolli 6-3 6-4 in the Men’s semifinals.
World number three Pegula and seventh seed Swiatek traded breaks early in the opening set before rain briefly interrupted play with the score level at 1-1. Pegula returned with purpose, breaking for a 3-2 lead and following it with a love hold for 4-2.
Swiatek clawed back, breaking to level at 4-4 before moving ahead. ‌But with the ‌set locked at 5-5, Pegula capitalized on ​a ‌Swiatek ⁠double ​fault to ⁠break for 6-5 before the Pole missed a return and sent an overhead smash into the net to hand Pegula the opener. In the second set Swiatek was more aggressive, breaking in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead.
Pegula broke back and managed to level the contest, but the former world number one sealed the set ⁠in the 10th game when Pegula missed a ‌forehand return.
Pegula refused to fade ‌after Swiatek moved 3-1 ahead in the ​decider. The American levelled at 4-4, ‌earned the decisive break in the next game and served ‌out victory after two hours and 47 minutes.
“It was a really tough match. She (Swiatek) is in great form. To beat someone who is such a great athlete like Iga in the semis and to make it to another ‌1000 final, it’s awesome,” Pegula said.
Pegula will face on Sunday fourth-ranked Coco Gauff, who defeated unseeded Czech Sara Bejlek, 6-2 6-2, in the other semifinal match.
Bejlek, 20, went into their Saturday night semifinal seeking another big upset, having knocked off world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round.

Fils prevail
In the Men’s draw 22-year-old