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American Coco Gauff shocked world number one Iga Swiatek in a thriller to reach the Cincinnati Open final.<\/span><\/p>\n Gauff had never managed to win a set in seven previous matches against the Pole, but showed huge determination to win 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-4.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The 19-year-old dominated the first set tie-break but Swiatek broke early in the second set and levelled the match.<\/span><\/p>\n But Gauff grabbed her first break-point chance in the decider and held on for the biggest win of her career.<\/span><\/p>\n She will face French Open finalist Karolina Muchova in Sunday’s final after the Czech world number 17 defeated second seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-2.<\/span><\/p>\n Muchova found herself 4-1 down in the opening set but turned things around and served for it before being broke to 15 – and Sabalenka came through again in the tie-break<\/span><\/p>\n But Muchova dug in and defended well, combining aggression with shot variety to gain the upper hand and set up a first tour meeting with Gauff, with both players into their maiden WTA 1000 final.<\/span><\/p>\n In the first semi-final, neither Gauff nor Swiatek was able to take control of an opening set that included four consecutive breaks of serve but the American seventh seed hustled her way into a 4-0 lead in the breaker and held on to take it.<\/span><\/p>\n It looked like normal service was resumed for Swiatek in the second set as she struck early for a 2-1 lead thanks to some heavy groundstrokes and maintained her dominance.<\/span><\/p>\n Serving first in the decider, Swiatek was barely troubled in her first three service games.<\/span><\/p>\n But at 3-3, she started to show some signs of vulnerability and Gauff converted the second of two break points in the game to edge ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n Swiatek missed a break-back opportunity in the next game but then held to put the pressure back on Gauff to serve out for the match.<\/span><\/p>\n