WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 -- Ashleigh Barty reached the Cincinnati Masters semifinal for the first time and moved closer to regaining the No. 1 world ranking Friday by beating Maria Sakkari 5-7, 6-2, 6-0.

With one more win, she can move into the top spot for the U.S. Open, taking it back from Naomi Osaka, who had much bigger concerns after dropping out of her semifinal match because of a knee injury.

After splitting sets with Sofia Kenin, Osaka took a timeout early in the third set to have her left knee examined and wrapped. She played only two more points before retiring, sending Kenin into the semifinals for the second straight week.

Last week in Toronto, Kenin knocked off Barty on her way to the semifinals, allowing Osaka to jump ahead of Barty for No. 1. Now they're in position to swap spots again.

Barty will face Svetlana Kuznetsova, who reached her first semifinal of the season by beating third-seeded Karolina Pliskova 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3.

Kuznetsova is playing only her ninth event after missing the start of the season because of a knee injury. Playing on a hot, humid afternoon, she got treatment on her upper right leg after the second set and twice again during the final one.

【体坛英语资讯：Barty into semi, Osaka injured at Cincinnati Masters】相关文章：

★ 体坛英语资讯：Dutch advance, Italy, France on brink of elimination

★ 体坛英语资讯：China achieves best results on track and field

★ 体坛英语资讯：Croatia bullish, Germany relieved at Euro 2008

★ 体坛英语资讯：Government cooperation needed in doping fight

★ 体坛英语资讯：Germany beats North Korea 3-0 to advance to semifinals

★ 体坛英语资讯：Zenit lift UEFA Cup in historical glory

★ 体坛英语资讯：Hosts China struggle into quarter-finals

★ 体坛英语资讯：Boston stays hot at home

★ 体坛英语资讯：Brazil does not need a number nine, says Dunga

★ 体坛英语资讯：Pain-free Yao back on track for Games