Pegula's three-hour epic sets up all‑US final

Jessica Pegula clinched her place in the final of the Cincinnati Open with a grueling three-hour match against six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek. Pegula, the third seed, prevailed 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, showcasing a total of 13 service breaks. Coco Gauff, who had already defeated unseeded Sara Bejlek 6-4, 6-1, advanced to face Pegula in what would be the first all-American women's final in Cincinnati in 56 years. The previous final in 1970 was won by Rosie Casals over Nancy Richey.

Pegula reflected on the match's ebb and flow: "I felt like we were playing well at times and then not playing well at times, so it was really tough to get a gauge on the match. Sometimes there's matches like that where you see a lot of breaks back and forth, and I just kept telling myself to not get too upset about it. It is a little emotionally draining."

In the men's draw, Frances Tiafoe, an American, topped fellow American Brandon Nakashima 7-5, 6-3, setting up a showdown against Arthur Fils of France. Tiafoe, who lost to Jannik Sinner in last year's Cincinnati Open final, remarked, "It's awesome for a bunch of kids looking up to us and who want to be in our position. That's what it's about. It's always nice to be a part of history. Hopefully we can have more big finals like this having people of colour, and I'm super pumped about it."

Only two black men have triumphed in Masters 1000 titles - American Ben Shelton and French player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.