Iga Swiatek states what it’s ‘always’ like to play against Elena Rybakina ahead of their Cincinnati Open semifinal

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Iga Swiatek is enjoying a flawless run at the Cincinnati Open, having not dropped a set so far during the tournament.

After Swiatek’s short-lived campaign in Montreal, the Pole has earned dominant wins over Anastasia Potapova, Sorana Cirstea, and Anna Kalinskaya to book her place in the Cincinnati semifinals.

In the final four at the WTA 1000 event, she will face former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, who knocked out defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals.

Swiatek and Rybakina are no strangers on the tour, having played each other nine times during their careers.

Ahead of a 10th clash between the two, the world number three had high praise for her upcoming opponent.

Iga Swiatek looks ahead to her semifinal with Elena Rybakina

In her press conference after beating Kalinskaya, Swiatek said of Rybakina: “At the United Cup, I think it was one of my best matches this season. I could feel like I needed to do a step up, in the first set especially, to break her.

“I remember I was like that is not enough. So it’s always super intense against Elena. You don’t get a lot of chances because she serves well, she moves really well, especially with how tall she is, and she covers the court well.

“You really need to be there to use your chances when she is playing well. With this surface and balls, especially, I am not watching but I imagine she is really precise and when she feels it the balls usually go in.

“You just need to play your game and be solid and use the chances that you get.”

Iga Swiatek’s WTA head-to-head record with Elena Rybakina

Swiatek emerged victorious in her first tour-level meeting with Rybakina, beating her in the quarterfinals of the 2021 Ostrava Open.

The Kazakh won their next three meetings, however, earning straight-set victories in 2023 at the Australian Open and Indian Wells, before defeating her at the Italian Open in three sets.

After swapping wins in Doha and Stuttgart last season, Swiatek has come out on top in their last three bouts, which have all occurred this year.

Those triumphs came at the United Cup and the Qatar Open earlier in the season, and in the fourth round of Roland Garros.