Top seeds Djokovic, Barty toppled in Cincy semis

FE Team | Published: August 18, 2019 23:18:30

Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia returning to Ashleigh Barty of Australia during the Western and Southern Open Tennis Tournament on Saturday in Mason, Ohio — AP

CINCINNATI, Aug 18 (AFP): World number one Novak Djokovic wilted under pressure from Daniil Medvedev Saturday, falling 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to the ninth-seeded Russian in the Cincinnati Masters semi-finals.
Medvedev's upset win sent him into a title showdown with another unexpected finalist, 16th-seeded Belgian David Goffin, who defeated France's Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-4 to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 final.
A fuming Djokovic, who looked to have control of the contest in the early going, was caught out when Medvedev stepped things up in the second set.
"I don't know how I turned it around, I was so tired after the first set and I thought I might not be able to keep up the intensity," said Medvedev, who has competed in 15 hardcourt matches since July 30.
Kuznetsova denied Barty a chance to reclaim the world number one ranking, which the Australian would have done by reaching the final.
Instead the triumph by 34-year-old Kuznetsova leaves injured Naomi Osaka atop the rankings with the US Open looming.
Barty, who had rallied from a set down in each of her previous two matches, also said she was taking positives from the week to Flushing Meadows.