WORLD number three Aryna Sabalenka will return to second in the world after toppling top seed and rival Iga Swiatek in the Cincinnati Open semi-finals overnight. The Belarusian will take on world number six Jessica Pegula for the title tomorrow in what promises to be a ripping decider.

Sabalenka trailed Swiatek 3-8 in the pair’s head-to-head over the course of history, so was keen to get one back. She did just that with a commanding 6-3 6-3 performance over the Pole, who has looked a little shaky on the American hardcourt.

The world number one and Olympic bronze medallist had her moments through the tournament – such as her impressive belting of Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-2 – but dropped sets to Varvara Gracheva and Mirra Andreeva along the way. Sabalenka on the other hand is yet to drop a set in the WTA 1000 event with big wins over Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Elina Svitolina and Liudmila Samsonova before the straight sets win over Swiatek.

Sabalenka aimed to get on top of points quickly in their semi-final, winning 67 per cent of her first serve points off a 52 per cent clip, but surprisingly worked to control play off her second serve with a distinct advantage of 53 to 20 per cent compared to Swiatek. Both players brought about break point opportunities, but Sabalenka’s far outweighed Swiatek’s, converting five of 15 as opposed to two of six.

“I wasn’t over-rushing things. I was trusting myself a lot, and I wasn’t trying to over-hit the ball,” Sabalenka said post-match. “I was just trying to stay there, put as much pressure as I can on her, and I was really focused on my serve.”

The world number one kept fighting to the end after trailing 1-5 in the second set, breaking for a second time and cutting the deficit back to 3-5, only for Sabalenka to return serve with yet another break and close out the match in an hour and 48 minutes.

“Especially when someone leads against you 8-3 you kind of feel like, ‘Okay, I gotta keep it interesting,'” Sabalenka said. “I gotta get my win so it’s interesting for people to watch us play. So yeah, of course, I wanted this win badly.”

In the other semi-final, the red-hot Pegula – who was coming straight off a title in Toronto – knocked off the re-born former world number three Paula Badosa in a tough three-set match, taking an hour and 53 minutes to get past her opponent.

A momentum-swinging match for the most part, the sixth seed was able to win 6-2 3-6 6-3 despite a disrupting rain delay mid-match. It marked her ninth straight victory and became just the sixth player to reach singles finals in both Canada and Cincinnati back-to-back.

Pegula looked to be well on top of the match and headed for a straight sets win when up 6-3 2-0 and completing an early break in the second set. However Badosa was far from done, racing back to win six of the next seven games and close out the second set.

A critical break in the eighth game of the third set put Pegula ahead 5-3, and that was all she needed, as the American saved a break point in her last service game to close out the match and book her spot in the WTA 1000 final.

“I just needed to not get frustrated,” Pegula said post-match. “She was serving so well there for a while. She hits the ball so hard, and I was just like, ‘I don’t really know what to do’ sometimes. It’s hard to find that balance of trying to go for your shots but also trying to be consistent. 

“I wanted to remind myself to be aggressive but at the same time, to dig out some points when I needed to, and to serve well. I knew it was going to be hard to break her, but luckily I played a couple of good points, and was able to serve it out.”