Elena Rybakina stormed into the Cincinnati Open semi-finals with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 victory over world number one Aryna Sabalenka, while celebrating the return of her long-time coach, Stefano Vukov. The 2022 Wimbledon champion delivered a performance of exceptional quality, serving with precision and dictating rallies against one of the tour’s most aggressive shotmakers.
Vukov’s presence in her box marked a significant development. He had previously been banned from coaching at WTA tournaments and grand slams following allegations of abusive behavior, but his suspension was recently lifted on appeal. Rybakina, who has consistently defended him throughout the ordeal, expressed relief at having him back on-site. “It’s great that he’s here in the box, finally, so it’s a good thing,” she said after her victory.
Since Vukov’s suspension earlier in the year, Rybakina had voiced frustration with the WTA’s handling of the case, insisting that he had never mistreated her. While he was unable to attend tournaments during the ban, he continued working with her behind the scenes. In the meantime, Italian coach Davide Sanguinetti had joined her team, and the two are now collaborating with Vukov to provide tactical and technical support.
Although Rybakina kept her post-match comments on the subject brief, she acknowledged that having her full team present is a boost. Her focus now shifts to the semi-finals, where she will face third seed Iga Swiatek. The reigning Wimbledon champion has been in superb form and secured her own place in the last four with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Anna Kalinskaya. The clash promises to be another thrilling chapter in their growing rivalry.
On the men’s side, Carlos Alcaraz continued his pursuit of another title with a gritty 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Andrey Rublev. Although not at his sharpest, the Spanish second seed showed resilience in key moments, particularly after failing to serve out the match at 5-3 in the final set. Regrouping quickly, he sealed the win with composure and maturity, underlining his growing reputation as one of the most reliable competitors under pressure.
Alcaraz now awaits the winner of Ben Shelton versus Alexander Zverev, with the possibility of another showdown against Jannik Sinner looming should both advance. The two have contested the last three finals against each other, and Cincinnati could set the stage for a fourth consecutive meeting.
