Marie Bouzkova produced an upset win as she rallied to beat top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 3-6 6-3 on Saturday night after a long weather delay in the Mubadala Citi DC Open semi-finals.
Down 2-1 in the third set when lightning and rain stopped play for three and a half hours, Bouzkova broke Sabalenka’s serve in the first game after they resumed before breaking again for a 5-3 lead and closing out the Australian Open champion with a love game.
Sabalenka was playing her first tournament since withdrawing from Wimbledon because of a shoulder injury.
Awaiting Bouzkova in her first WTA 500 final is Paula Badosa of Spain, a 6-3 6-3 winner over Caroline Dolehide of the United States in the first semi-final.
Bouzkova won her lone career title in 2002 in Prague. Ranked as high as No 2, Badosa has slipped to 62nd after a back injury sidelined her for six months last year.
Fourth-seeded Sebastian Korda will face 10th-seeded Flavio Cobolli of Italy in the men’s final, with both looking for their first ATP Tour title.
Korda beat fifth-seeded Frances Tiafoe, from nearby College Park in Maryland, 6-4 6-4 in an all-American match that ended shortly after midnight.
Cobolli knocked off second-seeded Ben Shelton of the United States 4-6 7-5 6-3 in a match moved to a secondary court.
Korda is trying to become the first American to win the Washington event since Andy Roddick in 2007.
In the run-up to the final Grand Slam of 2024 – the US Open – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the hard-court season.
Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.
Frances Tiafoe Jamie Squire/Getty Images Just days after rubbing shoulders with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, American ten
Iga Swiatek wrapped up a 2-0 victory for Poland over five-time champions Spain to seal their place in the last eight of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malag
Alexander Zverev continued his strong form at the ATP Finals by moving into the semi-finals in Turin with a commanding 7-6 (5), 6-4 win over the third seed Carl
Zverev continued his impressive form against Alcaraz, who has struggled with a chest complaint during this tournament and once again wore a pink nasal strip to