Alcaraz outlasts Rublev, and Sabalenka falls to Rybakina, losing her championship title.

Carlos Alcaraz resisted the pressure of Russian Andrey Rublev on Friday and advanced to the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open, where he will face German Alexander Zverev. In the women's draw, reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka bowed out after losing to Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina.

World number two, Alcaraz needed three sets (6-3, 4-6 and 7-5) and two hours and 17 minutes to overcome the number 11 in the ranking, in what was his first major test of the tournament after defeating the Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, the Serbian Hamad Medjedovic and the Italian Luca Nardi.

“I kept my thoughts positive the whole time today, even when I lost focus a bit at times during the match,” admitted the Murcian, who acknowledged that any distraction against Rublev could cost him dearly.

On Saturday, Alcaraz will face Zverev, the world number three, who defeated American Ben Shelton 6-2. Both are the players with the most wins in 2025: 52 for the Spaniard and 43 for the German, who leads the head-to-head match 6-5. In the other semifinal, Jannik Sinner, the world number one and defending champion, faces Frenchman Terence Atmane, the tournament's biggest surprise at number 136.

In the women's draw The elimination of Sabalenka, number 2 and champion in 2024, and the fall of the American Coco Gauff, two major shocks

In the women's draw, the day produced two major shocks: the elimination of Sabalenka, the world number two and 2024 champion, and the defeat of American Coco Gauff. The Belarusian was defeated by Rybakina (10 WTA titles) by a resounding 6-1, 6-4 in just 75 minutes.

The Kazakh will be vying for a place in the final against world number 3 Iga Swiatek of Poland, who defeated Anna Kalinskaya (6-3, 6-4). The other semifinal will feature Italian Jasmine Paolini, who came from behind to beat Gauff (2-6, 6-4, 6-3), and Russian Veronika Kudermetova, who defeated Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva 6-1, 6-2.

Unlike the men's draw, the women's semifinals will be played this Sunday, and both finals are scheduled for Monday.