The victory sends Pegula into Sunday's final and pushes Świątek, the tournament's defending champion and No. 7 seed, out of the top seven in Monday's world rankings — she will fall to eighth regardless of how the final unfolds. Pegula is assured of holding her No. 3 ranking either way.
Saturday's match was a back-and-forth affair defined by extended rallies and games pushed to deuce, with neither player able to build a cushion for long. Pegula shook off an early break to grab a 4-2 edge in the opening set, only for Świątek to level at 5-5. A late break proved costly for the Pole, and Pegula closed out the set on her first opportunity, helped by an unforced error from Świątek at the net.
Świątek responded by seizing early control of the second set, jumping out to a 4-2 lead. Pegula fought back to tie the score, but Świątek reeled off the final two games to send the match to a decisive third set.
The pattern repeated in the finale: Świątek built a 3-1 advantage before Pegula, playing with what organizers described as fierce determination, clawed back to 3-3. The turning point came in the ninth game, when Świątek fell into an 0-40 hole on her own serve. She saved three break points before finally surrendering the game — and with it, the momentum. Serving for the match, Pegula converted without hesitation.
The result marked the pair's 13th career meeting, with Świątek still leading the head-to-head series 7-6.
Cincinnati's other semifinal pits fourth-seeded American Coco Gauff against Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek, who upset top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus earlier in the tournament.
The Cincinnati event stands as the last significant tune-up on the WTA calendar before the U.S. Open, the year's final Grand Slam, gets underway in New York on Aug. 30.
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Source: PAP