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CINCINNATI: Iga Swiatek reached the final of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open for the first time on Sunday, surging past Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3 in a match played in sweltering summer conditions.
Poland’s Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, recovered an early break in the opening set and powered away to beat 2022 All England winner Rybakina — who had swept past world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals.
Swiatek, a former world number one now ranked third, had twice stalled at the semifinal stage at the pre-US Open event, but booked her title chance on her third opportunity.
She will vie for the title on Monday against either seventh-seeded Italian Jasmine Paolini or Veronika Kudermetova.
“It was a tough match,” Swiatek said. “At the beginning it was crazy, so hot and we were playing so fast.”
The six-time Grand Slam champion recovered from 3-5 down in the opening set, sweeping the last four games.
Swiatek jumped to a 4-1 lad in the second, sandwiching a pair of love service games around a break of Rybakina’s serve.
But Kazakhstan’s Rybakina made her work for it, fending off three break points in the sixth game and saving a pair of match points in the eighth before Swiatek closed it out a game later.
“I was playing with intensity and quality,” Swiatek said. “I feel good about my game right now and would not change anything.”
Swiatek said she was prepared for a tough final, no matter who she faces.
“Anyone who is there will have been playing well,” she said. “Each of them play completely different tennis. I’ll have to figure out my tactics. I’ve progressed well at this tournament and I want to continue that.”
Before her 6-0, 6-0 Wimbledon final win over Amanda Anisimova last month, Swiatek had been in a trophy drought with her last prior title coming in June 2024 at Roland Garros.
Another victory on Monday would be a strong springboard into the US Open, where first-round play starts on August 24.

ISLAMABAD: The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), in an official letter, has reaffirmed the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) as the sole governing body of football in Pakistan, the PFF said on Sunday, amid administrative challenges relating to the sport in the South Asian country.

Pakistan and FIFA share a complex yet evolving relationship, shaped by ongoing efforts to develop football infrastructure and promote the sport in the country. Pakistan has faced repeated administrative challenges and international suspensions, largely due to government interference in football affairs.

In 2019, FIFA appointed a normalization committee to restore order within the PFF and facilitate the holding of democratic elections. FIFA suspended the PFF in Feb. this year after its elected congress rejected constitutional amendments proposed by the global body but the ban was reversed in March after PFF accepted the amendments.

“We would like to hereby confirm that the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), currently led by Mr.Syed Mohsen Gilani as its elected president, is a recognized member of FIFIA since 1948,” FIFA said in its letter shared on the PFF’s Instagram handle.

“Accordingly, PFF, who is an active member of FIFA, is the governing body of football in Pakistan.”

The development comes nearly two months after Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met FIFA President Gianni Infantino to discuss football’s growing popularity in Pakistan and the potential that the sport has in the South Asian nation.

Football in Pakistan has long existed in the shadow of cricket. However, the sport has been growing popular over the years, particularly among the youth, who form a passionate fan base in urban centers.

“Had an excellent meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino,” Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), said on X following his meeting with Infantino during a trip to the US.

“We discussed the immense potential of sports in Pakistan — especially the growing popularity of football following cricket,” he added.

Last month, the PFF announced it had appointed former Newcastle legend Nolberto Solano as the new head coach of the national men’s and under-23 team.

Solano, a former international footballer who has played 95 matches for Peru, was a prominent English Premier League footballer who also played for high-profile teams such as Newcastle United and Aston Villa during his football career.

He replaced Stephen Constantine, a seasoned football coach, who had been affiliated with Pakistan from September 2023 till October 2024.

“Nolberto Solano, legendary Peruvian international and former Premier League star, has officially been appointed as the Head Coach of Senior Men’s National and U23 Team,” the PFF said.

The federation said it had also hired Jorge Castañeira, describing him as a “globally respected performance and fitness coach,” to serve as associate fitness coach for the senior men’s national team.

“With over 30 years of elite-level experience, Jorge has worked across continents with top national teams and clubs,” the PFF said.

PFF President Gilani said both new hirings would help Pakistan build a “strong and professional future” for football in the country.

“With Solano and Castañeira joining us, we will give our players better facilities,” Gilani added.