By beating Rybakina and making the Cincinnati title match, Swiatek improved to 6,753 ranking points in 2025 - the only player with more points is Aryna Sabalenka, who stands at 7,610. After the Pole, Coco Gauff comes at third spot with 4,944 points and the American is the next in line to secure a Riyadh ticket.

Aryna Sabalenka's Cincinnati Open title defense is over. The World No. 1 was eliminated by Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals Aug. 15.

Por The Associated PressEl entrenador de Elena Rybakina, campeona de Wimbledon en 2022, ha recibido autorización de la Gira de la WTA para regresar tras su suspensión por una posible

Vukov had appealed his one-year ban for breaching the WTA Tour code of conduct ahead of this year's French Open.

A season that began with doubts has given way to a Wimbledon revival and a Cincinnati final. Now Iga Swiatek chases Aryna Sabalenka into the year-end showdown in Riyadh.

The coach of 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina has been cleared by the WTA Tour to return from his suspension for a potential breach of its code of conduct.

But Vukov refused to sit silently - and after appealing the WTA's ban - he won his case and rejoined Rybakina's team at the Cincinnati Open. And that is already having a positive impact on the Kazakh, who is through to the semifinal after ousting top seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-1 6-4.

Elena Rybakina's coach, Stefano Vukov, is back in her box after the WTA concluded a six-month investigation into his behavior.