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Karolina Pliskova returns a shot to Camila Giorgi during the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. Image Credit: AFP

Cincinnati: Defending champion Karolina Pliskova solidified her world No. 1 ranking on Friday by defeating fifth-ranked Caroline Wozniacki and qualifier Camila Giorgi on Friday to reach the WTA and ATP Cincinnati Masters semi-finals.

The 25-year-old Czech, fighting to hold off Romania’s second-ranked Simona Halep atop the rankings, first ousted Italian qualifier Giorgi 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 in one of five matches postponed from Thursday due to rain.

Pliskova returned two hours later and defeated Denmark’s fifth-ranked Wozniacki 6-2, 6-4 to book a Saturday semi-final matchup against reigning Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza.

Four rivals could have toppled Pliskova this week, but the only one still with a hope is Halep, who faces Britain’s seventh-ranked Johanna Konta in a later quarter-final.

By virtue of Pliskova’s twin wins, Halep must capture the title to swipe the top spot in next week’s rankings.

Pliskova improved to 3-5 all-time against Wozniacki, who beat her last week in a Toronto quarter-final.

The Czech, who downed Wozniacki in this year’s Eastbourne and Doha finals, broke in the third game of each set and saved the only break point she faced in her first service game.

Sixth-ranked Spaniard Muguruza ousted Russian eighth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 in a matchup of two-time Grand Slam winners that lasted two hours, 45 minutes.

“It was one of the best matches of the year,” Muguruza said. “It was a battle. I fought so hard. It was very tough. We both played very well.”

Muguruza displayed a black ribbon on her visor in memory of Barcelona victims.

“I had it on my mind,” Muguruza said.

Svitolina No. 1 bid foiled

Ukraine’s fourth-ranked Elina Svitolina lost her chance at number one this week when she was beaten by Julia Goerges 7-5, 6-4.

Bulgarian seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov defeated Japan’s Yuichi Sugita 6-2, 6-1 to reach the semi-finals against the winner of a later match between Americans John Isner and Jared Donaldson.

Austria’s eighth-ranked Dominic Thiem was also to meet Spaniard David Ferrer for a semi-final spot against Nadal or Kyrgios.