Jessica Pegula upset defending champion Iga Swiatek in Saturday's first semifinal, and Coco Gauff dismissed the Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek in the second, setting the first all-American women's final at this tournament since Rosie Casals and Nancy Richey met in the 1970 final. [1][2] Fifty-six years of Cincinnati Opens produced plenty of champions. None of their finals looked like this one.

Friday's coverage noted both American survivors would have to beat opponents playing better tennis — Swiatek riding a ten-match hard-court streak, Bejlek fresh off wins over Aryna Sabalenka and Madison Keys. [3] Both complied. Gauff handled the qualifier whose run had eaten every narrative in the draw, and Pegula did what she always does, winning quietly enough that nobody notices until the bracket says final. [1]

Sunday's winner arrives in New York as the story of the hard-court summer, with the US Open beginning August 30. [1][2] The matchup writes itself without hyperbole: Gauff's serve and forehand weight against Pegula's flat, early-strike precision, the tour's most decorated young champion against its steadiest one. "We definitely root for each other," Gauff said Friday, and both have played all fortnight like it. [2]

Swiatek's exit will dominate the post-mortem, as defending champions' exits do. [1] The subtler reading belongs to whoever loses Sunday: an all-American final guarantees one flag lifts the trophy, and guarantees the other leaves Ohio with questions New York will ask within days.

-- AMARA OKONKWO, Lagos