Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after winning against top-ranked Iga Swiatek of Poland in a WTA Cincinnati Open semi-final on Sunday — AFP MASON, Ohio, Aug 19 (AP): Top-ranked Jannik Sinner outlasted Alexander Zverev in a third-set tiebreaker Sunday to reach the Cincinnati Open final, while No. 1 Iga Swiatek fell to No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka in the women's semifinals.
In the final, Sinner will play American Frances Tiafoe, and Sabalenka will meet American Jessica Pegula.
Sinner emerged with a 7-6 (9), 5-7, 7-6 (4) victory after 3 hours, 7 minutes, tying Casper Ruud for the ATP Tour lead by reaching his fifth final of the season. In the late match, Tiafoe rallied to beat 15th-seeded Holger Rune 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4).
Sinner leads the tour with four titles this season.
The first set against Zverev lasted more than an hour and the match also was suspended for 30 minutes by rain.
Zverev, the No. 4 seed, had won four straight meetings against Sinner. Sinner finished with a 124-121 edge in total points.
"I think we both raised our level when it counted," Sinner said. "The tiebreaker can go both ways. I just tried to stay there mentally. Obviously, I'm happy to be in the final."
Sinner, who's been dealing with a right hip issue, was seen grabbing that area early in Sunday's match but said he came through fine physically.
"Sometimes I feel it," Sinner said. "I have to check after this tournament here. I haven't had too much time to recover before coming here. I'm not worried yet. I'm happy to play."
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