The Japan Times - Alcaraz survives Rublev to reach Cincy semis as Rybakina topples No. 1 Sabalenka

Spain's Alcaraz broke Rublev in the final game of a tense duel to emerge a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 winner and will face either third-seeded German Alexander Zverev or fifth-seeded American Ben Shelton for a place in the final.

But Sabalenka had no answer for 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina, who beat the top-ranked Belarusian 6-1, 6-4 to book a semi-final meeting with Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek -- a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Anna Kalinskaya.

Alcaraz was broken while serving for victory at 5-4 in th final set against 11th-ranked Rublev, but he found his focus and used his trademark grit to come thrugh for the victory three games later.

He sealed the triumph as an emotional Rublev hit an eighth double-fault on match point.

Alcaraz, the 2023 runner-up in Cincinnati, earned his 14th consecutive Masters 1000 win after winning this year in Monte Carlo and Rome.

He also held onto his lead in the season match-win category with his 52nd and stands 37-2 since the start of April after winning five titles so far in 2025.

"I maintained the positive thoughts even if I lost focus a bit in the second set," Alcaraz said. ""Against Andrey, if you lose focus it can cost you the set -- or the match.

"In the third set I wasn't hitting the first serve, lost focus and he broke. (Fighting back) is what I'm most proud of.

"I had to be accepting of the moment, but I love that -- playing in extreme conditions with all of this (crowd) energy."

- Rybakina revenge -

Rybakina claimed a fifth victory in her 12-match personal rivalry with Sabalenka, avenging a loss to the world number one in Berlin two months ago.

Rybakina was aided by 11 aces as she reached her first Cincinnati semi-final.

"I'm happy with the serve. It was the key today," Rybakina said. "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," she said. "I just hope to continue like this."

Rybakina has won her last three matches against Swiatek, all played this season.

Swiatek needed 93 minutes and five match points to get past Kalinskaya in what she called "the best match I played here.

"I'm happy that I'm progressing during the tournament," said the former world number one, who moved into the Cincinnati final four on a steamy day after 34th-ranked Kalinskaya saved four match points in the penultimate game.

Swiatek said the hot, humid weather was something players "need to get used to -- the heat with how the world is changing.

"It's getting worse and worse, I guess," added the six-time Grand Slam champion.

Swiatek, who broke on three of 11 chances in the match, said the contest was "much different" from her loss to Kalinskaya in the Dubai semi-finals last year.

I just played my game. It was not easy but I'm happy that I stayed solid and kept my intensity," she said.

In other quarter-final action, Veronika Kudermetova crushed Varvara Gracheva 6-1, 6-2 and awaits the winner of Friday night's match between world number two Coco Gauff and ninth-ranked Jasmine Paolini.

T.Sasaki--JT