Bejlek Does It Again, Gauff Cruises Into Semifinals | WTA Cincinnati Open 2026

Cincinnati Open 2026 Roundup | Day 9

The 2026 Cincinnati Open completed its women’s singles quarterfinals on Friday, August 21, and the remarkable run of Sara Bejlek is still alive.

Bejlek came from behind to defeat Madison Keys 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), backing up her stunning victory over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to reach the first WTA 1000 semifinal of her career.

Later, Coco Gauff produced a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory over Marta Kostyuk.

That sets up an intriguing semifinal:

Sara Bejlek vs. Coco Gauff.

And after everything Bejlek has already accomplished in Cincinnati, calling her run simply an upset story no longer seems sufficient.

Main Highlight: Bejlek Refuses to Stop Believing

Four victories had already transformed Sara Bejlek into the breakout story of Cincinnati.

Friday made it five.

The 20-year-old Czech recovered from a set down to defeat former Cincinnati champion and Grand Slam winner Madison Keys 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5).

Keys looked ready to end the run when she took the opening set 6-3.

Bejlek had other ideas.

She fought back to take the second 6-4, forcing another deciding set in a tournament where she has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to respond when matches turn against her.

The third set eventually reached a tiebreak.

With a place in her first WTA 1000 semifinal at stake, Bejlek held her nerve.

She took the breaker 7-5.

Another major champion was out.

From Pliskova to Keys: Bejlek’s Extraordinary Cincinnati Run

At this point, Bejlek’s route deserves to be seen in full.

Karolina Pliskova — 6-0, 6-2

A former World No. 1 and Cincinnati champion.

Barbora Krejcikova — 7-6(5), 6-4

A two-time Grand Slam singles champion.

Ekaterina Alexandrova — 4-6, 6-1, 6-2

A seeded opponent beaten after Bejlek dropped the opening set.

Aryna Sabalenka — 7-6(7), 6-4

The World No. 1 — giving Bejlek the first Top-10 victory of her career.

Madison Keys — 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5)

Another Grand Slam champion and former Cincinnati winner.

That is no longer one shocking result surrounded by an easy draw.

Bejlek has repeatedly beaten accomplished opponents to earn her place in the semifinals.

The Match Ended Level — Almost Everywhere

There was something particularly striking about Bejlek’s victory over Keys.

After three sets, both players had won exactly 107 points.

Keys produced more winners.

Bejlek made fewer unforced errors.

Both converted three break points.

The match ultimately came down to a handful of points in the deciding tiebreak.

Bejlek won the ones that mattered most.

That has become a recurring theme during her Cincinnati run.

She doesn’t necessarily overwhelm opponents.

She keeps finding a way through them.

From First Top-10 Win to First WTA 1000 Semifinal

Before Cincinnati, Bejlek had never defeated a Top-10 opponent.

She had never reached a WTA 1000 quarterfinal.

Now she has defeated the World No. 1 and reached the semifinals.

The progression has happened in the space of only a few days.

Her reaction after beating Sabalenka perhaps explains the mentality behind it best.

Bejlek said she simply kept believing.

Against Keys, she had to do exactly that again.

A set down.

Facing a major champion.

Then a deciding-set tiebreak.

She kept going.

Gauff Makes Quick Work of Kostyuk

While Bejlek needed three sets and a tiebreak, Coco Gauff took a considerably more direct route into the semifinals.

The No. 4 seed defeated Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-2 in a commanding performance.

Kostyuk had produced an impressive Cincinnati run of her own, defeating Sofia Kenin, Sloane Stephens and Mirra Andreeva.

Gauff gave her little opportunity to extend it.

The American controlled the match from the opening stages and completed the victory in straight sets.

It continues an increasingly impressive tournament for Gauff.

Gauff Is Getting Stronger as Cincinnati Progresses

Gauff’s Cincinnati campaign began with trouble.

She dropped the opening set of her first match against Liudmila Samsonova 2-6.

Since then, she has lost none.

Gauff recovered to beat Samsonova 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.

She then defeated Ann Li 6-1, 7-6(3).

Marie Bouzkova followed, 6-3, 6-2.

Now Kostyuk, 6-2, 6-2.

After an uncertain beginning, Gauff has become one of the most convincing players remaining in the draw.

And her next opponent presents a completely different challenge.

Bejlek vs. Gauff: Cinderella Meets a Former Cincinnati Champion

Bejlek’s reward for beating Sabalenka and Keys is another of the biggest names in women’s tennis.

Coco Gauff vs. Sara Bejlek

for a place in the Cincinnati final.

On paper, Gauff will enter as the clear favorite.

She is a Grand Slam champion, a former Cincinnati champion and one of the leading players in the world.

But Cincinnati has spent the last week teaching us something about Bejlek.

Paper doesn’t seem to matter very much once she gets on court.

Pliskova couldn’t stop her.

Krejcikova couldn’t.

Alexandrova couldn’t.

World No. 1 Sabalenka couldn’t.

Keys couldn’t.

Now Gauff gets her chance.

Pegula vs. Swiatek Completes the Semifinal Lineup

The other Cincinnati semifinal was already determined on Day 8.

Jessica Pegula survived a three-set battle against Amanda Anisimova, winning 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(4).

Defending champion Iga Swiatek advanced when Elena Rybakina was forced to retire with a left ankle injury while trailing 4-1.

That gives Cincinnati two very different semifinals:

Jessica Pegula vs. Iga Swiatek

Sara Bejlek vs. Coco Gauff

Pegula-Swiatek brings together two established WTA 1000 champions.

Gauff-Bejlek pairs one of women’s tennis’ biggest stars against the player who has become Cincinnati’s biggest surprise.

Kempen and Panova Reach Doubles Final

The women’s doubles tournament also reached its semifinal stage on Friday.

Magali Kempen and Alexandra Panova defeated Hsieh Su-Wei and Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 7-5 to book their place in Saturday’s championship match.

Their Cincinnati run has been impressive in its own right.

Kempen and Panova began by defeating Storm Hunter and Desirae Krawczyk 6-3, 6-4, then eliminated Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic before surviving a three-set quarterfinal against Chan Hao-ching and Maya Joint.

They are now one victory away from the Cincinnati doubles title.

One More Match for a Place in the Final

There is a temptation with surprise runs to keep asking when reality will finally arrive.

Bejlek has already answered that question five times in Cincinnati.

The names have become progressively bigger.

The stakes have become progressively higher.

And she keeps winning.

Now comes Coco Gauff.

Whether Bejlek’s run ends in the semifinal or somehow continues into Sunday’s championship match, Cincinnati has already given the 20-year-old something considerably more valuable than one famous upset.

It has given her a breakthrough tournament.

Sara Bejlek arrived in Cincinnati as one player in a 96-player draw.

She enters semifinal Saturday as one of the stories of the tournament.