Swiatek Advances in Rainy Cincinnati as Alexandrova Awaits Possible Showdown
It’s been a wet and unpredictable week at the Cincinnati Open, but the action on court has been anything but dull. On Wednesday, third seed Iga Swiatek moved into the quarterfinals with a straight-sets win over Sorana Cirstea, 6-4, 6-4. The victory not only extended Swiatek’s flawless 5-0 record against the Romanian, but also set up a potential clash with Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova—if Alexandrova can get past compatriot Anna Kalinskaya in their all-Russian battle.
The match against Cirstea wasn’t all smooth sailing for Swiatek. Her first serve wasn’t clicking as much as she would have liked, but her second serve proved solid enough to carry her through. “I tried to be proactive with my serve,” she explained afterward, admitting she had to rely heavily on her backup plan. It was yet another display of adaptability from the Wimbledon champion, who has been riding a wave of momentum since her triumph in London.
Also Read:- Astros Face Bullpen Shake-Up as Josh Hader Seeks Second Opinion
- ASX Hits Record High as Westpac and Temple & Webster Surge
Meanwhile, rain delays continued to cause headaches for players. In the women’s draw, Magda Linette pulled off a two-day upset over fourth seed Jessica Pegula, while on the men’s side, defending champion Jannik Sinner battled both the weather and a tricky opponent in Adrian Mannarino. After nearly three hours of waiting, Sinner secured a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory, extending his hard-court winning streak to 24 matches. His next opponent will be Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, who dispatched Benjamin Bonzi in the evening session.
Still, the focus now is firmly on the competition. Swiatek is aiming to sharpen her hard-court game ahead of the US Open, a tournament she won in 2022. Former British No. 1 Annabel Croft has already tipped her as the favorite in New York, citing the confidence boost from Wimbledon as a key factor.
If Alexandrova advances, the Cincinnati crowd could be treated to a clash that blends pure tennis skill with a hint of off-court intrigue. For now, Swiatek remains steady, moving forward in a tournament where the rain may be unpredictable, but her game plan is anything but.
Read More:
0 Comments