Cincinnati Open WTA Quarter-finals Round-Up | Coco Gauff routs Kostyuk as Bejlek stuns Keys to reach semis
WTASaturday, 22 August 2026 at 09:08
The Cincinnati Open semi-final lineup is beginning to take shape after another dramatic quarter-final produced a major upset. Sara Bejlek continued her remarkable run by coming back from a set down to defeat former champion Madison Keys in a deciding-set tiebreak, securing the biggest result of her career and a place in the last four.
Bejlek's victory came after Keys appeared firmly in control early on, racing through the opening set 6-3. The Czech gradually turned the match around, however, and after levelling the contest she established a 4-2 lead in the decider. Keys fought back to force 6-6, but Bejlek held her nerve in the tiebreak to complete another stunning upset.
Bejlek completes remarkable Keys comeback
Sara Bejlek 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 Madison Keys
Bejlek produced another huge upset in Cincinnati, recovering from a slow start to defeat former champion Keys and reach her first WTA 1000 semi-final. The American looked completely in control during the opening stages, winning the first seven points of the match and breaking immediately before moving 3-0 ahead.
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Keys continued to dominate behind her serve and eventually took the opening set 6-3. Even when Bejlek began creating more pressure, the American showed enough composure to survive a late scare, saving three break points before converting her second set point to take the lead.
The momentum changed dramatically in the second set. Bejlek stayed in the rallies for longer and began putting Keys under more consistent pressure on return. After the two exchanged breaks, the Czech remained composed in the closing stages and eventually took the set 6-4 to force a decider.
Bejlek then appeared to be heading towards another upset when she raced into a 3-0 lead in the final set. She consolidated the advantage and moved 4-2 ahead, leaving Keys in serious trouble. The American, however, showed her experience and fought back immediately, winning three of the next four games to level at 5-5.
Neither player could find another breakthrough, sending the match into a deciding-set tiebreak. Bejlek held her nerve in the biggest moments and eventually secured the victory, completing a remarkable comeback and advancing to the Cincinnati semi-finals.
The result continues an extraordinary tournament for the Czech, who had already eliminated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the previous round. She now has a chance to reach the Cincinnati final after another major upset against a former champion.
Gauff completes commanding victory
Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-2 Marta Kostyuk
Coco Gauff has joined Bejlek in the Cincinnati semi-finals after a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory over Marta Kostyuk. The American controlled the match from the baseline and consistently put pressure on Kostyuk's serve, making sure the Ukrainian could not build on the momentum from her comeback against Mirra Andreeva.
Gauff made the ideal start, breaking early in the opening set and establishing a lead she never looked close to surrendering. Kostyuk struggled to turn her baseline aggression into sustained scoreboard pressure, while Gauff remained disciplined in the longer exchanges and repeatedly found ways to attack the Ukrainian's serve.
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The second set followed a similar pattern. Gauff again created an early advantage and, rather than allowing Kostyuk back into the contest, continued to dictate with her return and groundstrokes. The American closed out another 6-2 set to complete a comfortable victory and book a semi-final against Bejlek.
The result also puts Gauff into the final four of the tournament she won in 2023, keeping her hopes of another Cincinnati title alive.
Coco Gauff of the United States celebrates during her match against Alina Korneeva during round of 16 National Bank Open
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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AceOfBase12-09-2026 - I hope he wins. Would be great to have a USA winner again with the men.AceOfBase12-09-2026
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- Clearly not AI :-)AceOfBase11-09-2026
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mandoist08-09-2026
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