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.
Iga Swiatek, of Poland, reacts after defeating Ons Jabeur, of Tunisia, to win the women’s singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
“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.
Tennis legend Rafael Nadal, the all-time leader in Roland Garros titles picked the best player among Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and himself.
According to the ATP rankings, Jannik Sinner currently holds the title of world No. 1. However, even the Italian acknowledges that when it comes to historical significance, he trails behind the likes of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. These two, along with Roger Federer, have dominated the conversation around the GOAT debate.
Each player has their unique accomplishments, but Djokovic seems to have made a compelling case, especially after securing the Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games—one of the few accolades that had eluded him. In a recent interview, Nadal decisively ended the GOAT debate, offering his own pick.
Speaking on the Spanish program ‘El Objetivo,’ Nadal did not hesitate to name Novak Djokovic as the best player in history. “I would say Djokovic is the greatest of all time. The numbers say so, and to me, he is the best,” the Spaniard stated. It’s worth noting that Djokovic has surpassed both Nadal and Federer in Grand Slam titles, with 24 to his name, and recently clinched his first Olympic gold in Paris.
Nadal also commented on Djokovic’s temperament, saying, “When I see someone with so much success get so angry, I don’t like it. However, I think the image he projects is worse than what he truly is. He’s a good person with his flaws. His frustration lasts as long as it takes to break a racket. After that, he’s ready to play at 100% again.” Nadal concluded, “He’s the best I’ve seen. He’s had the better physicality, and that counts.”
Nadal reflects on his rivalry with Federer
For many years, the most anticipated match in tennis was Nadal versus Federer, a clash of styles that often defined the biggest tournaments. Reflecting on this period, Nadal said, “We pushed each other to new heights. We also took a lot from each other. We achieved a level of self-demand that is hard to replicate because we knew we couldn’t afford to fail. That competition pushed us to the limit.” He added, “I wouldn’t call him a friend, but he’s someone I have a deep familiarity with, and we share a great relationship.”
Grand Slam record
Novak Djokovic: 24
Rafael Nadal: 22
Roger Federer: 20
Pete Sampras: 14
Roy Emerson: 12
Rod Laver: 11
Bjorn Borg: 11
Novak Djokovic: How many players have won the career Golden Slam in tennis?
Novak Djokovic just completed the career Golden Slam in Paris 2024 Olympics. The big question is how many players have done that in tennis history.
How many sets are played in tennis matches at the 2024 Olympic Games?
Who was the masked man in the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony?
Novak Djokovic has finally won the career Golden Slam after a brilliant performance in the Paris 2024 Olympics. It was an amazing run knocking out in his way to the title many big names such as Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.
Now, the Serbian legend holds the most impressive trophy case in tennis history. Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open, individual gold medal, Davis Cup, ATP Finals and all the Masters 1000.
As a consequence, one of the biggest questions in the tennis world is how many players have achieved the Golden Slam in history. It’s a very surprising answer which, by the way, doesn’t include Roger Federer.
Which tennis players have won a career Golden Slam?
Novak Djokovic, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams are the five players with a career Golden Slam. It’s important to emphasize that, in a career Golden Slam, it doesn’t matter if you win all trophies in different years.
Has anyone done the Golden Slam?
Steffi Graf is the only player in history who has conquered the true Golden Slam in history. That milestone is different from the career Golden Slam as you must win everything in the same year to achieve it.
In 1988, the German star won the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open. Furthermore, she got the individual gold medal in Seoul beating Gabriela Sabatini in the final. No man in singles has done that.
The 2024 US Open is set to take place without Rafael Nadal, with the Spaniard closing in on retirement.
The 22-time grand slam champion is coming towards the end of an incredible career, and as he winds down, he’s decided to withdraw from the US Open.
The Spaniard recently competed at the Paris Olympics and formed a dream doubles duo with Carlos Alcaraz.
However, Nadal was to have no Olympic glory, as he and Alcaraz failed to make it to a medal match.
And with the last grand slam of the year approaching, Nadal has elected to skip this one, with Mackenzie McDonald taking his place.
Why is Rafael Nadal not playing at the US Open?
Nadal was initially on the entry list for the men’s singles at Flushing Meadows.
He was set to enter as ranked player at No.9, but earlier in August, he announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he wouldn’t be competing.
2018 French Open Tennis Tournament – Rafael Nadal of Spain and Novak Djokovic of Serbia while playing a tie break doubles exhibition match against Simone Halep of Romania and Alexander Zverev of Germany on Court Philippe Chatrier during a packed Children’s Day at Roland Garros before the start of the 2018 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on May 26th 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
He said: “I have decided not to compete at this year’s US Open a place where I have amazing memories.
“I will miss those electric and special night sessions in NYC at Ashe, but I don’t think I would be able to give my 100% this time.
“Thanks to all my U.S. fans in particular, will miss you all and will see you another time.”
So, it’s clear that Nadal doesn’t feel he would be able to do himself justice if he were to compete in this year’s US Open.
Despite withdrawing from the US Open this year, Nadal indicates he will return to America.
This doesn’t mean he will make the US Open next year, but he should play in at least one more US-based tournament before retiring.
Since winning the last of his 22 grand slam singles titles in New York, Nadal has only played at Flushing Meadows once.
A hip injury in 2023 robbed him of that whole season, while a muscle problem in January earlier this year saw him miss the hard-court campaign and Wimbledon.
However, despite all these injuries, Nadal has yet to decide when to retire.
He’s set to play in the Laver Cup in Berlin and might make a decision after that.
But what is clear is that the US Open will miss Nadal’s presence.
Speaking about the Spaniard pulling out, US Open Tournament Director Stacey Allaster said: “We wish him all the best and look forward to having him back at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.”
Certainly, they and tennis fans around the world will hope to see Nadal back at the US Open one last time, but that is far from guaranteed.
Angel Reese is currently around the mid-way point of her rookie year with the Chicago Sky. Despite her brief tenure with the squad, there’s no denying that she’s already formed solid bonds with her teammates — both past and present.
One particular player who Reese grew close to early on in the 22-year-old’s rookie year is Kysre Gondrezick, who, incidentally, was waived by the Sky early in the season.
On Sunday, Gondrezick shared a photo of herself with Reese during a recent meet-up, which prompted an emotional reaction from the former LSU superstar.
“love you & miss you pookie 🥺💋” Reese wrote.
Reese, who is currently averaging 13.6 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game, joined the Sky in April after she was selected as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft. Gondrezick was waived on June 28, which means that the two were teammates for barely two months.
Despite their brief time together with the Sky, however, it is clear that these two formed quite a friendship on and off the court. They may no longer see each other every day in practice, but there’s no denying that their relationship is the type that is able to survive the test of time and distance.
Angel Reese continues to shine in her stellar WNBA rookie campaign by notching another record on Sunday.
Despite the Chicago Sky losing, 68-86, to the Phoenix Mercury, the former LSU star recorded her 20th double-double this season. Reese led the Sky in points and rebounds, with a 19-20 performance in their losing effort.
In doing so, Reese became the fastest player to achieve 20 double-doubles in a single season in WNBA history.
Her road to the feat included 15 straight double-doubles, during which she averaged 15.3 points and 13.2 boards per game. Despite the hot stretch ended in July, she continues to fill the stat sheet with 13 games left in the regular season.
However, while Reese tallied double-doubles in both meetings with the Mercury, the Sky has lost both meetings against Phoenix.
Reese tallied 15 rebounds and 11 points against the Mercury on August 15 – a game that Chicago lost 85-65.
While Reese is winless against Phoenix this season, rival and fellow rookie Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever is 3-0 against Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi and Co.
Reese and the Sky will have one more chance to get one over Phoenix when they meet at Wintrust Arena on September 15.
With the curtains soon to be drawn on their first WNBA season, Clark and Reese are in a tight race for the Rookie of the Year honor.
Clark also got busy on Sunday and broke the record for most assists by a rookie in WNBA history.
The former Iowa Hawkeye – who came into the game with 223 assists this season – added nine more to her tally and shattered the record with 12 games left before the playoffs.
The previous record was held by Ticha Penicheiro – who served up 225 assists in 1998 with the Sacramento Monarchs.
In their clashes so far this season, Clark and the Fever have gotten the best of Chicago, leading 2-1 in the regular season series. They will meet one more time before the playoffs on August 30.
The Fever are currently seventh in the league and third in the Eastern Conference with a 13-15 record. Meanwhile, the Sky hangs behind them in both standings at 11-16.
Swiatek has won 8 of her last 10 matches against Sabalenka
Can the World No.1 continue the winning streak in Cincinnati?
Watch Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka live streaming
Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka Preview
Iga Swiatek has won three straight against Aryna Sabalenka and an 8-3 record in the head to head. This should be a great match with the winner to reach the final in Cincinnati.
Stats
Iga Swiatek has won in 3 sets in 2 of her last 3 matches.
Iga Swiatek has won 8 of her last 10 matches against Aryna Sabalenka.
Aryna Sabalenka has lost 6 of her last 9 matches against Top 10 players.
HTH
Iga Swiatek is 8-3 against Aryna Sabalenka, winning the previous three encounters.
They have met twice this year, both on clay, Swiatek winning 7-5 4-6 7-6 in the Madrid Open final and 6-2 6-3 in the Italian Open final.
Iga Swiatek Stats
Nationality: Poland
Age: 23 (31 May 2001)
Height: 5’9″ (1.76m)
Plays: Right-Handed
World Ranking: 1
Career High: 1 (April 2022)
WTA Tour Titles: 22
2024 WTA Tour Titles: 5
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 5 (4 French Open, US Open)
Cincinnati Open Best Result: Semi-Finals (2023)
Iga Swiatek Form
Iga Swiatek is 55-6 this year, winning the Qatar Open and Indian Wells Open on hard courts alongside the Madrid Open, Italian Open and French Open on clay.
The World No.1 exited early at Wimbledon and was on track at the Olympics before a semi-final defeat to Qinwen Zheng. She won the bronze medal match, thrashing Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-2 6-1.
The Pole beat Varvara Gracheva 6-0 6-7 6-2 in her opening match in Cincinnati before showing Marta Kostyuk no mercy, winning 6-2 6-2 in 70 minutes.
Swiatek got past Mirra Andreeva 4-6 6-3 7-5 in the quarter-finals, winning 63% of her 2nd serves and saving 2/3 break points.
Aryna Sabalenka Stats
Nationality: Belarus
Age: 26 (5 May 1998)
Height: 5’11” (1.82m)
Plays: Right-Handed
World Ranking: 3
Career High: 1 (September 2023)
WTA Tour Titles: 14
2024 WTA Tour Titles: 1
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 2 (2023, 2024 Australian Open)
Cincinnati Open Best Result: Semi-Finals (2018, 2022, 2023)
Aryna Sabalenka Form
Aryna Sabalenka is 37-11 this year, reaching the Brisbane International final and winning the Australian Open.
The World No.3 reached finals in Madrid and Rome, beaten by Iga Swiatek on both occasions.
The Belarusian was last seen in Toronto, beating Yue Yuan and Katie Boulter in straight sets before a 6-4 6-2 quarter-final defeat to Amanda Anisimova.
Sabalenka hasn’t lost a set in Cincinnati, defeating Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-3 6-4, Elina Svitolina 7-5 6-2 and Liudmila Samsonova 6-3 6-2.
Top-ranked Jannik Sinner outlasted Alexander Zverev in a third-set tiebreaker to reach the final of the Cincinnati Open, while No. 1 Iga Swiatek was defeated in the women’s semifinals by No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka. (More Tennis News)
Sabalenka will face American Jessica Pegula in Monday’s final, while Sinner will play either American Frances Tiafoe or No. 15 seed Holger Rune.
Sinner on Sunday emerged with a 7-6(9) 5-7 7-6(4) victory after 3 hours, 7 minutes, tying Casper Ruud for the ATP Tour lead by reaching his fifth final of the season. Sinner leads the tour with four titles this season.
The first set lasted more than an hour and the match also was suspended for 30 minutes by rain.
Zverev, the No. 4 seed, had won four straight meetings against Sinner. Sinner finished with a 124-121 edge in total points.
“I think we both raised our level when it counted,” Sinner said.
“The tiebreaker can go both ways. I just tried to stay there mentally. Obviously, I’m happy to be in the final.”
Sinner, who’s been dealing with a right hip issue, was seen grabbing that area early in Sunday’s match but said he came through fine physically.
“Sometimes I feel it,” Sinner said.
“I have to check after this tournament here. I haven’t had too much time to recover before coming here. I’m not worried yet. I’m happy to play.”
Sabalenka reached the finals in Cincinnati for the first time with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Swiatek, ending the five-time Grand Slam winner’s 15-match winning streak and avenging losses in the finals in Madrid and Rome.
“Really happy with the win, especially against Iga, who is always a tough battle,” Sabalenka said.
“To get the win in straight sets, that’s kind of an achievement for me.”
Swiatek, who’s been on top of the WTA rankings for 116 weeks, was satisfied with her week in Cincinnati.
“I pretty much did better than I expected, honestly, especially on this surface,” Swiatek said.
“I’m happy with the result anyway, and already focusing on what I need to do to feel even better in New York.”
The US Open begins there on August 26. Swiatek won the title in 2022.
Pegula, the No. 6 seed, beat Paula Badosa 6-2 3-6 6-3 after their semifinal was suspended more than an hour by rain.
She is the third American to reach the finals at the Canadian and Cincinnati Open in a calendar year, the first since Serena Williams in 2013.
“We’ve had a lot of great battles in the past,” Sabalenka said.
“She’s a great player. Going to be another great match.”
The US Open gets underway in a week. Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff will come to Flushing Meadows as the defending champions while world No. 1s Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek look to add to their trophy cabinets.
But not everyone will be playing the last Grand Slam of the season, including Rafael Nadal. The four-time US Open champion is one of seven big names who have been forced to miss the tournament this year.
Express Sport takes a look at the key players who will be absent in New York.
Rafael Nadal
The 22-time Grand Slam winner put his name on the entry list but admitted this was just a formality in case he decided to play. Nadal has competed in just seven tournaments this year due to ongoing injury setbacks. He hasn’t played a match away from clay courts since January.
After the Olympics – where he reached the second round in singles and the quarter-final in doubles – he pulled out of the US Open. “I will miss those electric and special night sessions in NYC at Ashe, but I don’t think I would be able to give my 100 per cent this time. Thanks to all my US Fans in particular, will miss you all and will see you another time,” he wrote. Nadal’s next tournament will be the Laver Cup.
Cameron Norrie
The British No. 2 is carrying a forearm injury and has not played since losing to Nadal in Bastad a month ago. He travelled to the Olympics but withdrew hours before his match. Norrie then headed to Cincinnati but was also forced to pull out. He has since announced his US Open withdrawal, saying: “I have been working hard to get my body to full health – unfortunately my forearm injury is not recovering as soon as I would have hoped.”
Nick Kyrgios
The former Wimbledon finalist has played just one singles match since October 2022 after struggling with persistent knee and wrist injuries. He is set to make a comeback at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown exhibition tournament this week and will play another exho match in Flushing Meadows during US Open fan week but has not entered the main draw.
Simona Halep
Halep has barely played since having her four-year suspension reduced to nine months. She immediately returned at the Miami Open in March following a successful appeal but lost in the first round.
The former world No. 1 then entered a WTA 125 event in Paris in May but retired during her opening match. She has been sidelined by a knee injury ever since. Halep also failed to receive a wildcard for the French Open and did not apply for a Wimbledon one due to her physical issues.
Marketa Vondrousova
The world No. 18 has been plagued by injuries this summer. She fell and retired with a hip injury during the Berlin Championships in June but prematurely rushed back for her Wimbledon title defence though she lost in the first round. Vondrousova pulled out of the Olympics with a hand injury and has since withdrawn from the US Open.
Kei Nishikori
Nishikori reached his only Grand Slam final at the US Open a decade ago. But he won’t be able to return this year after his injury-protected ranking ran out. The Japanese tennis star recently reached the Canadian Open quarter-final and upset Stefanos Tsitsipas en route. But he is not ranked high enough to get into the US Open main draw or the qualifying event and did not receive a wildcard. He will compete in a series of Challenger tournaments instead.
Milos Raonic
Another former Grand Slam finalist, Raonic reached the championship match at Wimbledon in 2016. But the Canadian has been plagued by injuries over the last few years. He recently missed his home tournament at the Masters 1000 in Montreal and has since pulled out of the qualifying event in Flushing Meadows, where he was set to fight for a US Open main draw spot.
Rafa Nadal speaks out about his future while enjoying his vacation in Mallorca. The Spaniard confirms his participation in the Laver Cup, although he doesn’t reveal anything yet about the upcoming months: “I’m not in a rush to make a decision about my future. What’s certain is that I’ll be at the Laver Cup and then we’ll see,” as reported by Marca.
One private island resort in the Maldives is serving up a fun new experience for the sporty set.
COMO Maalifushi has teamed up with the Rafa Nadal Academy to create a new padel camp for guests. Running from October 20 to 26, the six-day event will allow players of all levels to enhance their skills and fitness levels on the five-star resort’s new padel court that opened this year.
Nadal and the technical team that has worked with him throughout his prolific tennis career developed the training system applied at his eponymous academy in Mallorca and designed the padel training program for COMO Maalifushi. The Academy’s expert coaches will go over the fundamentals of the fast-paced racket sport, sharing tips and insights for masters and novices alike.
“We are so excited to bring our training methodology to a unique and beautiful location,” Maribel Nadal, the younger sister of the tennis champion and co-director of the Rafa Nadal Academy, said in a statement. “We look forward to providing guests with an unforgettable experience set in the Maldives.”
Participants will be pushed to their limits in personalized training sessions and tailored workouts, with the intensity ensuring rapid improvement in technique, agility, and endurance. Players will be grouped by skill level to ensure everyone gets the most out of the experience. Sessions will be available daily from 7 to 10 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. There will also be a more relaxed padel camp running for children.
You won’t spend the entire time sweating it out on the court, of course. Guests will have the opportunity to talk with former tennis pro Anabel Medina Garrigues and enjoy a BBQ lunch with fellow padel players in the Maldivian paradise. The resort offers 65 suites and villas—some sit overwater and have swim-up terraces, others feature splashy private pools—plus two restaurants, a comprehensive wellness program, and outdoor activities ranging from diving to surfing.
“Our guests can look forward to an exceptional blend of professional coaching from the team at Rafa Nadal Academy amidst the breath-taking beauty of the Maldives, ensuring an unforgettable retreat that combines sport, wellness, and luxury,” added general manager of COMO Maalifushi Mohamed Sobah.
Those embarking on the Padel Camp will enjoy an “Island Indulgence” package that includes gourmet dining and selected beverages. You can contact res.maalifushi@comohotels.com for more information on the program or to book a place.
