Muguruza downs No. 1 Pliskova, Dimitrov reaches final

CINCINNATI: Reigning Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza and 11th-ranked Grigor Dimitrov each advanced to a groundbreaking final with triumphs Saturday at the WTA and ATP Cincinnati Masters.

Sixth-ranked Spaniard Muguruza reached her first US event final by trouncing Czech top-ranked defending champion Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-2, flipping the script in a rematch of their 2016 Cincinnati semi-final.

"I´m just happy to be in the final," said Muguruza. ""I was hoping to get it and my concentration was really good. Very happy with this win."

Bulgaria´s Dimitrov dispatched 19th-ranked American John Isner 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (12/10) to reach his first ATP Masters final, taking a dramatic final tie-breaker on his fourth match point.

"Patience. That´s what it is," Dimitrov said. "I knew where he was going to serve but I couldn´t do much on the ball. I just remained focused and used every opportunity I had."

Dimitrov, who matched his best Grand Slam showing by reaching this year´s Australian Open semi-finals, seeks his third title of the season and sixth of his career Sunday against the winner of a later semi-final between Australia´s Nick Kyrgios and Spain´s David Ferrer.

"Tomorrow is going to be a step forward for me," Dimitrov said.

Muguruza will play for her fifth career title Sunday against the winner of a later match between Romania´s second-ranked Simona Halep and 151st-ranked US wildcard Sloane Stephens.

Halep would overtake Pliskova and claim the world number one ranking for the first time by winning the crown at the last major US Open tuneup.

Pliskova, last year´s US Open runner-up, had won six matches in a row over Muguruza since losing their first meeting at the 2013 French Open.