CINCINNATI: Angelique Kerber also has No. 1 on her mind as she moved to the brink of the top WTA ranking by holding off Simona Halep 6-3, 6-4 move to the final.
The German Olympic silver medalist is poised to replace Serena Williams on the top spot if she can defeat 15th seeded Karolina Pliskova after the Czech upset Garbine Muguruza of Spain 6-1, 6-3.
Williams has been the number one for 183 straight weeks.
"There is still one match to go and I will not think yet about this," Australian Open winner Kerber said after reaching her second final at the venue.
"If it happens, it will be amazing. I have to focus on a match against a tough opponent."
Kerber stands 4-2 over Pliskova.
Kerber and third seed Halep -- winner of her last 13 matches -- were delayed an hour by rain and then interrupted for 30 minutes.
The German won despite breaking a string on the final point.
"I was just hoping the ball would fly in," Kerber said. "I´m so happy to have beaten such a tough player. I tried to stay positive and think that I could win.
"I was feeling my rhythm and believed in myself. It feels good to be in the final again."
At 17 in the world, Pliskova is the lowest-ranked finalist at Cincinnati since 2008, when number 21 Natalie Petrova won the title. Muguruza was overwhelmed with just seven winners and 23 unforced errors.
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