Gauff falls to Rybakina in three sets during the semifinals of the National Bank Open.

In a thrilling semifinal match at the National Bank Open, second-seeded Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan triumphed over fourth-seeded American Coco Gauff with a score of 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 early Thursday morning. This victory propels Rybakina into the finals, where she is set to face seventh-seeded Iga Swiatek of Poland later that evening.

The match concluded just before 1 a.m., following a rain delay that pushed the start time back by approximately an hour. Rybakina, who stands at an impressive 6 feet tall, showcased her powerful game, ultimately overcoming Gauff after dropping the first set. This win marks Rybakina's 13th career title, adding to her earlier successes this year at the Australian Open and in Stuttgart.

In the other semifinal, Iga Swiatek faced off against ninth-seeded Elina Svitolina from Ukraine. Swiatek managed to secure her place in the final with a hard-fought victory, winning 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. The match was characterized by intense rallies and strategic play, with Swiatek breaking Svitolina's serve at love to take a crucial 5-3 lead in the deciding set. She then capitalized on her momentum, converting her second match point after establishing a 40-0 advantage.

Swiatek's journey to the final adds to her impressive career tally, bringing her total victories to 25. The anticipation builds as she prepares to challenge Rybakina, setting the stage for an exciting final showdown at the National Bank Open.