Kiki Bertens advanced to her first Western & Southern Open final on Saturday, wearing down No. 8 Petra Kvitova 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 for a chance at her second title of the season.
Bertens is an unexpected finalist, winning only one match during three previous appearances in Cincinnati. Her only title this season was at Charleston.
Top-ranked Simona Halep plays later, trying to reach the finals for the third time. She has never won a Cincinnati title.
Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic, reacts during a semi-final match against Kiki Bertens, of the Netherlands, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Mason, Ohio. (AP PhotoJohn Minchillo)
Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic highlight the men's semifinals, needing a win on Saturday to play each other for the title. Federer is trying for a record eighth Cincinnati title. Djokovic is trying to win the tournament for the first time.
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Kiki Bertens, of the Netherlands, returns to Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic, in a semi-final match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Mason, Ohio. (AP PhotoJohn Minchillo)
Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic, returns to Kiki Bertens, of the Netherlands, in a semi-final match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Mason, Ohio. (AP PhotoJohn Minchillo)
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Cincinnati Reds center fielder Stuart Fairchild made a sensational leaping catch to rob Manny Machado of a three-run homer in the first inning of Wednesday's series finale against the San Diego Padres.
After Spencer Steer homered for the Reds with two outs in the first, it looked as if the Padres would surge ahead on Machado’s drive to right-center off Graham Ashcraft. But Fairchild tracked down the ball, leaped to make the catch and slammed into the low fence, with his cap flying off. He regained his balance and threw the ball in to hold the runners at second and first.
Ashcraft turned and raised his right index finger toward Fairchild as some Padres looked on in disbelief from the dugout.
The catch was reminiscent of the one San Diego native Adam Jones made to rob Machado of a home run in the 2017 World Baseball Classic at Petco Park. Then teammates with the Baltimore Orioles, Jones was playing for the United States and Machado was playing for the Dominican Republic.
Machado hit a three-run double in a 6-4 win Tuesday night that snapped a five-game losing streak.
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Cincinnati Reds center fielder Stuart Fairchild slams into the wall after making a leaping catch for the out on San Diego Padres' Manny Machado during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Cincinnati Reds center fielder Stuart Fairchild makes a leaping catch over the wall for the out on San Diego Padres' Manny Machado during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
