Tennis: Kuznetsova cruises past top-seed Barty 6-2 6-4 into Cincinnati final

Resurgent Svetlana Kuznetsova denied Ashleigh Barty a chance to reclaim the world number one ranking on Saturday as the Russian veteran cruised into WTA Cincinnati Masters final with a 6-2, 6-4 victory. Two-time Grand Slam champion Kuznetsova, currently ranked World No.153, received a wildcard into the draw. The Russian claimed her third Top 10 win in a row over beating top-seed seed Barty, following a dominant third-round victory over Sloane Stephens and a quarterfinal comeback win over Karolina Pliskova. Barty won the first two games, before losing eight consecutive games as Kuznetsova claimed the opener 6-2. Barty finally stopped the streak by holding for 2-1 in the second set, but the damage had been done, as the Australian would never get to break point in the set.