Aryna Sabalenka pulled off a stunning show as she defeated World No.1 Iga Swiatek 6-3, 6-3, on Sunday and booked her berth in the final of the women’s singles in the Cincinnati Masters. The Belarusian took an hour and 47 minutes to take down the Pole on Centre Court.

Sabalenka also snapped her three-match losing streak against Swiatek, who is still leading the head-to-head count at 8-4. With the win, the 26-year-old will also regain her No.2 spot in the WTA rankings, toppling Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina.

In the final, Sabalenka is set to lock horns with the winner of the other semi-final between Jessica Pegula and Paula Badosa. After missing the Wimbledon and Olympics due to a shoulder injury and health concerns, she is looking to win her 15th title.

Aryna Sabalenka dictates terms

Sabalenka is set to compete in her ninth WTA 1000 final after her victory over Swiatek and fifth against a reigning World No. 1. Their latest encounter, marking their third clash this season and first on hard court, saw Sabalenka dominate with a sharp serve and return game.

Sabalenka expertly kept the rallies brief, showcasing a performance that was both clinical and efficient. Although Swiatek leads the tour in service and return games won, she struggled significantly in both areas during this clash.

Sabalenka’s serve percentage stood at 52 percent, but she remarkably claimed 67 percent of her first-serve points and 53 percent on her second serve. Swiatek, on the other hand, faltered, winning just 20 percent of her second-serve points, managing only 6 out of 30.

The Belarusian displayed relentless pressure, breaking Swiatek’s serve an impressive five times, while allowing her opponent a mere two break points throughout the match.

Despite a valiant effort where Swiatek saved a commendable 10 match points, eight of which were against her own serve, she couldn’t close the gap entirely from 5-1 down. Sabalenka ultimately secured her victory by breaking Swiatek’s serve for a fifth and decisive time.