Elena Rybakina slogs through rain delays in Cincinnati win, Iga Swiatek progresses

[p]The second-seeded Kazakh admitted she struggled [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/frech-m-W6pL8zuB/rybakina-e-UDzElXdm/?mid=4nNeciNq"]to close out a match which dragged on for much of the afternoon[/a].[/p][p]The players were forced off court after nine games of the first set and again in the seventh game of the second.[/p][p]Upon the second return at the start of a week when rain is repeatedly forecast, two-time Grand Slam champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Rybakina[/a] was unable to wrap it up on three match points against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/frech-magdalena/W6pL8zuB/"]Frech[/a] serve in the 12th game.[/p][embed guid="142dba87-0006-4e0c-8100-ba6885df7d92" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wa9WO33p7k" social-type="youtube" /][p]With the Pole holding serve, the match went to a tie-breaker, where the seed finally got the job done on her fourth chance to get off court barely 10 minutes before more weather arrived.[/p][p]"[b]It was a crazy day, to be honest, coming out every time into clouds and humidity[/b]," Rybakina said. "[b]I felt that I was on top of the ball in the tie-break, but it was a difficult one[/b].[/p][p]"[b]I had the opportunities on the three match points but when you are tired it's difficult to keep concentration[/b].[/p][p]"[b]I'm happy the tie-break went my way, I just tried to win as many points as I could[/b]."[/p][p]Former world number one and defending champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/swiatek-iga/jNyZsXZe/"]Iga Swiatek[/a] was able to go through hours before the poor weather, turning the tables after losing the first set in defeating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sakkari-maria/KjsokFUj/"]Maria Sakkari[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/sakkari-m-KjsokFUj/swiatek-i-jNyZsXZe/?mid=jTKEPkPP"]4-6, 6-1, 6-[/a]1.[/p][p]The Polish seventh seed, who won the Toronto title last week, improved to 6-4 over her Greek opponent, heading to the changing rooms after dropping the first set and returning as if another player.[/p][embed guid="7eb0e79c-4147-4a5f-b1de-26376a96872a" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV0uRMzDbNY" social-type="youtube" /][p]Swiatek, winner of six Grand Slam titles including the US Open four years ago, only lost two more games after her remarkable turnaround.[/p][p]The seventh seed needed two hours to complete her reversal in form, saving seven of eight break points while breaking Sakkari five times. The Greek hit the net with a return on Swiatek's first match point.[/p][h2]'Lacked precision'[/h2][p]"[b]It's hard to analyse this match[/b]," Swiatek said. "[b]I was playing good in the first set but I lacked precision, I was playing too much to her[/b].[/p][p]"[b]After that I wanted to push her and not give so many opportunities. I'm happy it started working in the second set I played a bit better[/b].[/p][p]"[b]She made mistakes and the momentum changed a little bit[/b]."[/p][image alt="Swiatek vs Sakkari match stats" id="c6d600d2-1ab0-4813-a19e-a8f5f761ec8a" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="e539be7f-d468-45a8-b652-98d450a0ea4f" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]Swiatek moved into a match against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/parry-diane/hQQLzcNT/"]Diane Parry[/a], winner of an all-French battle with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/boisson-lois/KYHXSqUN/"]Lois Boisson[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/boisson-l-KYHXSqUN/parry-d-hQQLzcNT/?mid=A5u8xrkf"]4-6, 6-4, 6-3[/a].[/p][p]In the men's draw, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tirante-thiago-agustin/jBkGDj34/"]Thiago Tirante[/a] maintained his pace after ousting [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Novak Djokovic[/a] in the second round, with the Argentine advancing past Spain's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/landaluce-martin/AoOnGZEp/"]Martin Landaluce[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/landaluce-m-AoOnGZEp/tirante-t-a-jBkGDj34/?mid=zZ3I5Xac"]7-6(5), 7-6(4)[/a] to reach the third Masters round of 16 in his career.[/p][p]Roland Garros finalist [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cobolli-flavio/zDtaCcPe/"]Flavio Cobolli[/a] came from a break down in the deciding set to defeat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/blockx-alexander/xll0TzGG/"]Alexander Blockx[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/blockx-a-xll0TzGG/cobolli-f-zDtaCcPe/?mid=0WPT5o3e"]7-5, 4-6, 7-5[/a] and avenge a loss to the Belgian in Monte Carlo.[/p]