By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 15, 2025
Photo credit: Cincinnati Open Facebook
The ball burst like a battering ram staggering Aryna Sabalenka backward.
Elena Rybakina rocked the world No. 1 with heavy drives and rolled Sabalenka right out of the draw 6-1, 6-4 to charge into her first Cincinnati Open semifinal.
Rybakina ripped 11 aces against one double faulted and denied all five break points she faced, defeating Sabalenka for the fifth time in 12 meetings.
This rematch of the 2023 Australian Open final, which Sabalenka won in three sets, was the most lopsided outcome between the premier power players since Rybakina blasted the Belarusian 6-0, 6-3 in the 2024 Brisbane final.
That was a Rybakina MASTERCLASS 🤩
Elena Rybakina knocks out defending champion Sabalenka 6-1, 6-4.#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/J03v3ncKUR
— wta (@WTA) August 15, 2025
Disarming the US Open champion with depth and jolting power, Rybakina scored her second straight Top 10 and made a statement of intent ahead of this month’s US Open. Rybakina improved to 7-5 lifetime vs. world No. 1 players scoring her first win over a No. 1 since beating Sabalenka at the 2024 WTA Finals.
The ninth-seeded Rybakina will face former No. 1 Iga Swiatek for a spot in the final.
The 24-year-old Swiatek converted her fifth match point completing a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Anna Kalinskaya to become the youngest woman in Open Era history to advance to three consecutive Cincinnati semifinals.
4 – Elena Rybakina has equalled Petra Kvitova and Aryna Sabalenka (4) for the most wins against the World No.1 in WTA-1000 since the format introduction in 2009. Stellar. #CincyTennis | @CincyTennis @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/LcqYTuSjCS
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) August 15, 2025
Whipping the wide serve to displace Sabalenka, Rybakina won 29 of 36 first-serve points today. Rybakina controlled the crosscourt forehand exchanges and blistered backhands to keep the top seed on the defensive for most of her service games.
A focused Rybakina saved a break point in the opening game and was nearly untouchable on serve for the rest of the set.
After Sablenka held to level, Rybakina shifted into a higher gear. She stormed through five games in a row, belting four aces against no double faults and sometimes freezing Sabalenka with backhand drives down the line.
Four games into the match, Rybakina torched her two-hander down the line for break point and broke on a Sabalenka backhand error for 3-1.
The WTA ace leader whipped the wide ace that helped her stamp a love hold for a 4-1 lead after a mere 20 minutes of play.
Playing with calm command, Rybakina was nine of nine on first-serve points and saved the lone break point she faced in an assertive 28-minute opening set.
The former Wimbledon winner reeled off 16 of the last 18 points building a one-set lead as both women left the court before the start of the second set.
Rybakina repelled two break points then slashed successive aces holding to level the second set, 1-all.
That firm stand sparked the ensuing break. Rybakina drew an error for double break point then blasted her backhand down the line to break for 2-1.
The top seed threatened serve against in the eighth game earning a couple of break points. Rybakina erased both break points with aces—her 10th and 11th aces of the quarterfinals—then held for 5-3 when Sabalenka, with a good look at open court, missed a high forehand.
Serving for the match, Rybakina drew four errors in a row slamming shut an impressive 75-minute triumph with her fourth love hold of the day.
