WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open semifinals are locked in. The first semifinal will feature 2019 champion Madison Keys facing off against Petra Kvitova.
The second semifinal will take place between World No.7 Sabalenka and Caroline Garcia.
Madison Keys vs. Petra Kvitova
Petra Kvitova is enjoying a wonderful week of tennis at Cincinnati Open. She defeated Ajla Tomljanović 6-2, 6-3 to book a place in the semis. Her form has been brilliant throughout the tournament.
Earlier in the round of 16, she defeated 5th seeded Ons Jabeur 6-1, 4-6, 6-0. Kvitova will play her first WTA 1000 semifinal in over 2 years.
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“She is a big hitter, but even from the forehand she can go a little bit different style sometimes, that she can put it a little bit upper with more topspin,” Kvitova told reporters after her straight-set win over Ajla Tomljanovic in the quarterfinals.
“She is moving very well. And especially the serve, she has a lot of variety of the serve. She can go for ace, she can have a kick, she has beautiful technique of the serve.
“Definitely she has more kinds of this stuff. Not like me, I don’t have nothing, I’m just boom-boom.”
Madison Keys is playing relaxed tennis. She has defeated two seeded players this week, World No.1 Iga Swiatek and Jelena Ostapenko. She dominantly defeated Wimbledon champion, Elena Rybakina 6-2, 6-4 to enter the semifinals.
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“I have obviously had some battles against Petra,” Keys said after her win. “Won some, lost some. It’s never easy to play her, especially later in a draw, meaning that she’s playing some very good tennis.”
Aryna Sabalenka vs. Caroline Garcia
Caroline Garcia has won the most number of matches since the start of June. She won her 25th defeating Jessica Pegula 6-1, 7-5 to enter the semifinals.
Being ranked 35 in the world, she played qualifiers to enter the main draw. She has been a force this week defeating 2 Top 10 players, Maria Sakkari and Jessica Pegula.
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“She’s in the Top 10 for quite a while now, always doing good in the big events,” Garcia said. “You can always count on her. Doesn’t matter how many double faults she’s doing in one game, she is still here, still winning matches, not afraid to go for it.
Sabalenka on the other hand still seems to be struggling with her serve. However, she looks forward to playing her biggest final in over a year. She defeated China’s Zhang Shuai 6-4, 7-6(1) to enter the semifinals.
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“This season was really crazy for me, a lot of challenges,” Sabalenka said. “I’m super proud of myself that I was able to handle all these tough moments this year and I was able to fight. Even if something didn’t work, I still kept trying my best, still fighting for it.
“I’m super happy to be in another semifinal, and I will do my best tomorrow.”
