World No 1 Swiatek loses to Gauff for first time

World No 1 Iga Swiatek suffered her first ever loss to American Coco Gauff, the No 7 seed, as the 19-year-old reached the final of the Western & Southern Open with a 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4 at the Lindner Tennis Family Center in Cincinnati on Saturday evening.

Gauff, ranked No 7, will face the winner of the match between Karolina Muchova and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the second seed, next.

Ahead of her victory, the 19-year-old American defeated Egyptian Mayar Sherif (6-2, 6-2), qualifier Linda Noskova (6-4, 6-0) and Italian qualifier Jasmine Paolini (6-3, 6-2).

Swiatek, ranked No 1, won against American wildcard Danielle Collins (6-1, 6-0), Chinese Qinwen Zheng (3-6, 6-1, 6-1) and No 10 seed Marketa Vondrousova (7-6 (3), 6-1) in the previous rounds of the Cincy Open.

Cincinnati WTA 1000, other semi-final result (Linder Tennis Family Center, hard, USD 2.788.468):

• Karolina Muchova vs. Aryna Sabalenka