Pegula knocks defending champion Swiatek out of Cincinnati Open

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pegula-jessica/KdojxrAR/"]Pegula[/a] rallied from a break down in the final set to subdue six-time Grand Slam champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/swiatek-iga/jNyZsXZe/"]Swiatek[/a] in a tense battle that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/pegula-j-KdojxrAR/swiatek-i-jNyZsXZe/?mid=lfwx3BtC"]lasted two hours and 47 minute[/a]s.[/p][p]The American will face either unseeded Czech [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bejlek-sara/jVCKq0LH/"]Sara Bejlek[/a] or fourth-ranked [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gauff-coco/f5BXmEH6/"]Coco Gauff[/a] in Sunday's final.[/p][p]Bejlek, 20, went into their Saturday night semi-final seeking another big upset, having knocked off world number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Aryna Sabalenka[/a] in the fourth round.[/p][p]Pegula is chasing her third title of 2026 having won the 1000 level event in Dubai and lifted the trophy in Charleston.[/p][embed guid="6bb55431-ca12-4867-8a85-d792369ad1e6" url="https://x.com/TennisChannel/status/2091297803213357447" social-type="twitter" /][p]She slowed a Swiatek resurgence that had seen the former world number one from Poland claim her first title of 2026 in Toronto this month.[/p][p]Swiatek and Pegula took the court 30 minutes late due to rain and the match was interrupted briefly after just two games.[/p][p]A tense first set lasted more than an hour and featured seven breaks of serve, Swiatek agonizingly smacking a volley into the net on set point.[/p][p]After forcing the deciding set Swiatek took a 3-1 lead in the third, but Pegula regained the break and broke again when Swiatek double-faulted on break point to fall behind 5-4.[/p][image alt="Match Stats" id="fb7fc83c-15ec-4f68-95c0-f951e679e6c5" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="a57055a0-0325-4827-94e7-827eede305c0" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/pegula-j-KdojxrAR/swiatek-i-jNyZsXZe/?mid=lfwx3BtC"]See the full point-by-point summary and stats here on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]