Pegula to meet Gauff in all-American Cincinnati final, Tiafoe faces Fils

CINCINNATI, Aug 22 : Jessica Pegula saw off defending champion Iga Swiatek to set up an all-American Cincinnati Open women's final against Coco Gauff, while compatriot Frances Tiafoe will take on Frenchman Arthur Fils in the men's final.

World number three Pegula overcame a wobble in the second set to defeat Swiatek 7-5 4-6 6-4. Both players broke early in the opening set, before rain briefly interrupted play with the score level at 1-1. Pegula resumed with purpose, breaking serve to take a 3-2 lead, and then holding to make it 4-2.

Seventh seeded Swiatek fought back, breaking to level at 4-4 before moving ahead. However, with the set tied at 5-5, Pegula broke again to make it 6-5 and secured the opener when the 25-year-old Pole missed a return and sent an overhead smash into the net.

In the second set, six-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek upped her game, breaking in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. The 32-year-old American broke back to level, but the former world number one sealed the set when Pegula missed a forehand return.

Pegula, who reached the final in Washington earlier this month, refused to give up when Swiatek moved 3-1 ahead in the decider. She levelled at 4-4, earned the decisive break in the next game and served out the 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.

She will face two-time Grand Slam champion Gauff, who beat Czech Sara Bejlek 6-4 6-1. Gauff proved superior in the opening set getting a 4-1 lead after breaking serve. However, Bejlek managed to stay in contention and level at 4-4. Still, this wasn't enough to stop