It was semi-final one at the 2025 Cincinnati Open—a marquee clash between Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina that lived up to the billing. What started as Rybakina’s set to win quickly turned into another showcase of Swiatek’s mental steel and shot-making under fire throughout the game.
Iga Swiatek Saves Set, Then Steals It from Rybakina
Elena Rybakina surged ahead with two mid-set breaks, racing to a 5–3 lead and earning the chance to serve out the opener. Her power game clicked early, and she even created a pair of break points in game seven, converting the second for a 4–3 advantage. By then, she had built real scoreboard pressure, putting Swiatek on the defensive and looking poised to dictate the set.
But the finish line proved elusive. Iga Swiatek, facing the pressure, dug in with trademark resilience. She had already fended off two break points earlier in the set, and when Rybakina served at 5–4, Swiatek elevated her return level to claw the break back. That hold of nerve shifted the entire rhythm of the match.
Once level, Swiatek seized the momentum completely. She held strongly for 6–5, then pressed again on return. With Rybakina’s first serve percentage dipping, Swiatek pounced, carving out a set point at 15–40. She needed just one, converting immediately to cap a run of four straight games.
What looked like Rybakina’s set dissolved into a 7–5 steal for Swiatek, who finished with two of three break points converted while saving the two she faced. The turnaround showcased Swiatek’s blend of patience and aggression — a reminder of how quickly she can flip a set from danger to dominance.
Rybakina vs Swiatek – Set One Stats
| Statistic | Rybakina | Swiatek |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.85 | 1.18 |
| Serve Rating | 242 | 256 |
| Aces | 6 | 4 |
| Double Faults | 0 | 3 |
| 1st Serve % | 63% (20/32) | 78% (25/32) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 70% (14/20) | 80% (20/25) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 36% (4/11) | 14% (1/7) |
| Break Points Saved | 33% (1/3) | 50% (1/2) |
| Service Games | 67% (4/6) | 83% (5/6) |
| Ace % | 18.8% | 12.5% |
| Double Fault % | 0% | 9.4% |
| Return Rating | 173 | 194 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 20% (5/25) | 30% (6/20) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 86% (6/7) | 64% (7/11) |
| Break Points Won | 50% (1/2) | 67% (2/3) |
| Return Games | 17% (1/6) | 33% (2/6) |
| Pressure Points | 40% (2/5) | 60% (3/5) |
| Service Points | 59% (19/32) | 66% (21/32) |
| Return Points | 34% (11/32) | 41% (13/32) |
| Total Points | 47% (30/64) | 53% (34/64) |
| Max Points In A Row | 4 | 5 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Service Games | 67% (4/6) | 83% (5/6) |
| Return Games | 17% (1/6) | 33% (2/6) |
| Total Games | 42% (5/12) | 58% (7/12) |
| Max Games In A Row | 3 | 4 |
| Set 1 Duration | 0h 47m | |
Swiatek Races Ahead, Fends Off Fightback to Take It All
Iga Swiatek opened Set 2 with a solid hold, though Elena Rybakina initially pressured her serve. Rybakina responded with a fighting hold from 0–30 down, but Swiatek immediately struck — breaking at love for 2–1. She pressed again in the next return game, forcing multiple deuces and converting after saving a break point herself, to build a commanding 3–1 lead.
Swiatek consolidated with another straightforward hold for 4–1, then threatened to run away with the set. Rybakina dug in at 1–4, saving three break points to stay alive, but Swiatek quickly restored her cushion with a gritty hold from 40–40 for 5–2.
Serving to stay in the set, Rybakina produced her bravest passage — fending off two match points and holding through a string of deuces to make it 3–5. At that moment, both coaches—Vukov and Fissette—were shouting the same advice: “Keep attacking the forehand!” Yet Swiatek’s composure never cracked. Back at the line, she served out the set 6–3 on her third match point, sealing it with authority.
The set showcased three Swiatek breaks and two escapes by Rybakina — once from 0–30, later from match points down — but Swiatek’s fast start and steadiness on serve carried her through straight into the Cincinnati Final 2025.
Rybakina vs Swiatek – Set 2 Stats
| Statistic | Rybakina | Swiatek |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.50 | 1.99 |
| Serve Rating | 243 | 307 |
| Aces | 4 | 3 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 0 |
| 1st Serve % | 53% (18/34) | 48% (13/27) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 56% (10/18) | 85% (11/13) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 56% (9/16) | 71% (10/14) |
| Break Points Saved | 83% (5/6) | 100% (2/2) |
| Service Games | 75% (3/4) | 100% (5/5) |
| Ace % | 11.8% | 11.1% |
| Double Fault % | 2.9% | 0% |
| Return Rating | 44 | 130 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 15% (2/13) | 44% (8/18) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 29% (4/14) | 44% (7/16) |
| Break Points Won | 0% (0/2) | 17% (1/6) |
| Return Games | 0% (0/5) | 25% (1/4) |
| Pressure Points | 63% (5/8) | 38% (3/8) |
| Service Points | 56% (19/34) | 78% (21/27) |
| Return Points | 22% (6/27) | 44% (15/34) |
| Total Points | 41% (25/61) | 59% (36/61) |
| Max Points In A Row | 7 | 10 |
| Match Points Saved | 2 | 0 |
| Service Games | 75% (3/4) | 100% (5/5) |
| Return Games | 0% (0/5) | 25% (1/4) |
| Total Games | 33% (3/9) | 67% (6/9) |
| Max Games In A Row | 1 | 3 |
| Set 2 Duration | 0h 53m | |
Full Match Stats of this game to be found in all Cincinnati results