Iga Swiatek is stunned by Coco Gauff, and the Cincinnati championship match will feature Karolina Muchova

As the American teen’s level continues to grow in anticipation of the U.S. Open, Coco Gauff defeated world number one Iga Swiatek for the first time in eight encounters on Saturday to progress to the Cincinnati Open final.

Gauff, seeded seventh, will be the overwhelming favorite when she plays unseeded Czech Karolina Muchova in the final on Sunday. Muchova defeated a struggling Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s no. 2 player, 6-7(4) 6-3 6-2.

Gauff defeated the 22-year-old Pole 7-6(2) 3-6 6-4 by serving well and playing outstanding defense. After the hard-fought victory, the fans exploded, and Gauff sprang into the air and pounded her chest.

She told Tennis Channel, “I knew playing her was going to be challenging, nothing was going to be provided to me today.

“I seized my chances when they presented themselves and relentlessly pursued every point. In the second set, I was a bit dejected, but I recovered, and I just kept reminding myself, “You’re a warrior, you can do this.”

“This demonstrates my competence. Many people questioned my game, but I’m still improving.

When she was eliminated in the first round at Wimbledon last month, those suspicions reached their climax.

She remarked, “I told myself, ‘I can either let this crush me or make me rise.'” She chose to force herself to rise.

Gauff’s performance has improved significantly since the start of the U.S. hard court swing; she won the championship in Washington, D.C., advanced to the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open, and is now in her first WTA 1000 final.

It will also be Muchova’s first WTA 1000 final; following the competition, she will break into the top 10.

Prior to Muchova turning the tables and winning four consecutive games against the opponent she had defeated at Roland Garros to go to her maiden Grand Slam final, Sabalenka started out strong and built a 4-1 first set lead.

While Muchova modified her strategy over the following two sets, positioning in closer to the baseline and rushing the net to steal time away from the increasingly agitated Belarusian, who committed 10 double faults, Sabalenka maintained her calm in the tiebreak.

Muchova suffered with ailments last year, which caused her ranking to fall; she is now totally fit, and she expressed excitement for her first match against Gauff.

“I don’t really know her. We probably never even worked out together. I seldom ever even watched her matches. She assured reporters, “I’ll check at it.

She’s a tremendous mover, I know that. Powerful. When she played Iga today, I saw various rallies. extremely, very difficult. It’s incredibly difficult, just like every round here.