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Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka fell to a 6-1 6-4 defeat by Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Kazakh dominated the opening set and racked up 11 aces against the world number one before sealing her victory in 74 minutes. <\/p>\n
“I’m happy with the serve. It was the key today,” Rybakina said. <\/p>\n
“I served really well. If she had been serving well it would have been a totally different match. It was also intense from the baseline. I just hope to continue like this.”<\/p>\n
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon winner, will now face this year’s All England Club champion in the last four – as Iga Swiatek beat Anna Kalinskaya 6-3 6-4.<\/p>\n
Poland’s Swiatek, ranked third in the world, was always in charge against the Russian, who appeared hampered by a calf problem and saved four match points in the penultimate game.<\/p>\n
However, Swiatek prevailed to move into to her fourth WTA 1,000-level semi-final of the season.<\/p>\n
“I just played my game. It was not easy but I’m happy that I stayed solid and kept my intensity,” said the Pole.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n