PREVIEW Cincinnati Open WTA Quarter-Finals: Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek all still in it to win it
WTA
The 2025 Cincinnati Open has delivered thrilling upsets, intense battles, and standout performances, and now the women’s singles draw reaches its quarter-final stage. With semi-final spots on the line, some of the sport’s biggest names remain in contention, while a few dark horses look to continue their surprising runs. Fans can expect high-quality tennis, powerful rallies, and moments of sheer brilliance as each player fights to advance to the next round. Here is a look at the upcoming matchups, in order of play:
Iga Swiatek vs Anna Kalinskaya
Third seed Iga Swiatek has been imperious on her way to the quarter-finals, starting with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Anastasia Potapova in the opening round. She then received a walkover against Marta Kostyuk in the Round of 32 before defeating Sorana Cîrstea 6-4, 6-3 in the Round of 16, showcasing her ability to stay focused and control rallies.
Opposite her is 28th seed Anna Kalinskaya, who has carved out an impressive run herself. She opened her campaign with a hard-fought 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-1 victory over Peyton Stearns, followed it with a gritty 7-5, 6-4 win against number 5 seed Amanda Anisimova, and then took down 12th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-1.
This will be their second career meeting, with Kalinskaya having won their only previous encounter 6-4, 6-4 in the Dubai semifinals earlier last year. Swiatek’s aggressive baseline dominance and consistency will be tested against Kalinskaya’s tactical resilience and ability to hit winners under pressure. Expect a fast-paced clash where Swiatek will need to assert her game early, while Kalinskaya aims to capitalise on any lapses in concentration.
Match Info:
Iga Swiatek - Anna Kalinskaya
Start time (local): Fri, 15 Aug, 11:00 AM
Start time (your time): Fri, 15 Aug, 11:00 PM
Court: P&G Center Court
Tournament: Cincinnati Open
Round: Quarterfinal
Head-to-Head
| Swiatek | Kalinskaya | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 0 | 1 |
| Win Streak | 0 | 1 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 3 | 34 |
| Race Ranking | 2 | 42 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 3 | 30 (+4) |
| Live Race Ranking | 2 | 33 (+9) |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 24 (31 May 2001) | 26 (2 Dec 1998) |
| Birthplace | Warsaw, Poland | Moscow, Russia |
| Residence | Raszyn, Poland | - |
| Height | 5'9" (176cm) | 5'8" (175cm) |
| Weight | 152lbs (69kg) | - |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2016 | 2015 |
| Coach | Wim Fissette (October 2024–present) | Patricia Tarabini |
| YTD W/L | 45-12 (79%) | 19-12 (61%) |
| YTD Titles | 1 | - |
| Career Titles | 23 | 1 WTA Challenger |
| Prize Money | US$40,596,773 - 3rd in all-time rankings | US$ 5,276,414 |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
A Kalinskaya d I Swiatek WTA Dubai - Semifinal6-4 | 6-4 23 Feb 2024 |
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Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka has demonstrated her trademark power and resilience en route to the quarter-finals. She began her campaign with a 7-5, 6–1 win over Marketa Vondrousova in the opening round and then survived a thrilling three-set battle against Emma Raducanu, 7–6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5), in the Round of 32. Most recently, Sabalenka defeated Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-1, 7-5 in the Round of 16, showing both her dominance and ability to close out tighter moments.
Elena Rybakina, the ninth seed, has also been in formidable form. She started with a 4-6, 6-0, 7-5 win over Renata Zarazua in the Round of 64, then edged Elise Mertens 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the Round of 32. In her Round of 16 clash, Rybakina overcame Madison Keys in a nail-biting three-setter, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6–2, showcasing her calm under pressure and big-hitting baseline game.
The two have a long-standing rivalry. Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 7-4, including a narrow 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 victory in Berlin 2025. Their matches are consistently close, often decided in three sets or tiebreaks, highlighting how evenly matched their power games and mental resilience are.
This quarter-final promises high-intensity baseline rallies, with Sabalenka looking to dictate with her aggressive strokes and Rybakina aiming to absorb pressure and strike at the right moments. Past encounters suggest it could be decided by just a few crucial points, making for a gripping showdown.
Match Info:
Aryna Sabalenka - Elena Rybakina
Start time (local): Fri, 15 Aug, 12:10 PM
Start time (your time): Sat, 16 Aug, 12:10 AM
Court: P&G Center Court
Tournament: Cincinnati Open
Round: Quarterfinal
Head-to-Head
| Sabalenka | Rybakina | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 8 | 5 |
| Win Streak | 1 | 0 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 1 | 10 |
| Race Ranking | 1 | 8 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 1 | 10 |
| Live Race Ranking | 1 | 8 |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 27 (5 May 1998) | 26 (17 Jun 1999) |
| Birthplace | Minsk, Belarus | Moscow, Russia |
| Residence | Miami, Florida, US | Moscow, Russia |
| Height | 5'11" (182cm) | 6'0" (184cm) |
| Weight | 176lbs (80kg) | 159lbs (72kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2015 | 2016 |
| Coach | Anton Dubrov | Davide Sanguinetti (2025–) |
| YTD W/L | 48-9 (84%) | 37-15 (71%) |
| YTD Titles | 3 | 1 |
| Career Titles | 20 | 9 |
| Prize Money | US$37,133,342 - 8th in all-time rankings | US$ 17,450,937 - 34th in all-time rankings |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
A Sabalenka d E Rybakina Berlin - Quarterfinal7-6 | 3-6 | 7-6 20 Jun 2025 |
||
|
E Rybakina d A Sabalenka WTA Finals -6-4 | 3-6 | 6-1 6 Nov 2024 |
||
|
A Sabalenka d E Rybakina WTA Madrid - Semifinal1-6 | 7-5 | 7-6 2 May 2024 |
||
|
E Rybakina d A Sabalenka WTA Brisbane - Final6-0 | 6-3 7 Jan 2024 |
||
|
A Sabalenka d E Rybakina World Tennis League -7-6 22 Dec 2023 |
||
|
A Sabalenka d E Rybakina WTA Finals -6-2 | 3-6 | 6-3 3 Nov 2023 |
||
|
E Rybakina d A Sabalenka WTA Beijing - Quarterfinal7-5 | 6-2 6 Oct 2023 |
||
|
E Rybakina d A Sabalenka WTA Indian Wells - Final7-6 | 6-4 19 Mar 2023 |
||
|
A Sabalenka d E Rybakina Australian Open - Final4-6 | 6-3 | 6-4 28 Jan 2023 |
||
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E Rybakina d A Sabalenka World Tennis League -0-6 | 6-1 | 10-6 20 Dec 2022 |
||
|
A Sabalenka d E Rybakina Wimbledon - Round of 166-3 | 4-6 | 6-3 5 Jul 2021 |
||
|
A Sabalenka d E Rybakina WTA Abu Dhabi - Quarterfinal6-4 | 4-6 | 6-3 11 Jan 2021 |
||
|
A Sabalenka d E Rybakina WTA Wuhan - Quarterfinal6-3 | 1-6 | 6-1 26 Sep 2019 |
||
Varvara Gracheva vs Veronika Kudermetova
Varvara Gracheva, coming through the qualifiers, has been in impressive form. She started her main draw campaign with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over Katie Volynets, then defeated Sofia Kenin 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-3 in the Round of 64. Gracheva continued her run by overcoming Karolina Muchova 6-2, 6-4 in the Round of 32, before dispatching Ella Seidel 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 in the Round of 16. Her mix of consistency from the baseline and fighting spirit has made her a difficult opponent for higher-ranked players.
Meanwhile, Veronika Kudermetova has shown experience and resilience. She began with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Suzan Lamens in the Round of 128, then defeated Belinda Bencic 6-4, 7-6 (0) in the Round of 64. Kudermetova continued by beating Clara Tauson 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 in the Round of 32, and most recently defeated Magda Linette 6-4, 6-3 in the Round of 16. Her aggressive baseline game, coupled with strong serve placement, has carried her past three tough seeded opponents in a row.
Varvara Gracheva and Veronika Kudermetova have met twice on the WTA Tour, with Kudermetova winning both encounters. Kudermetova has clearly held the upper hand historically, and her higher ranking and greater experience suggest she enters their quarter-final clash as the favorite, although Gracheva’s recent run through qualifiers shows she has the resilience to challenge higher-ranked opponents.
Match Info:
Varvara Gracheva - Veronika Kudermetova
Start time (local): Fri, 15 Aug, 4:30 PM
Start time (your time): Sat, 16 Aug, 4:30 AM
Court: Grandstand
Tournament: Cincinnati Open
Round: Quarterfinal
Head-to-Head
| Gracheva | Kudermetova | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 0 | 2 |
| Win Streak | 0 | 2 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 103 | 36 |
| Race Ranking | 83 | 35 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 83 (+20) | 33 (+3) |
| Live Race Ranking | 58 (+25) | 29 (+6) |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 25 (2 Aug 2000) | 28 (24 Apr 1997) |
| Birthplace | Moscow, Russia | Kazan, Russia |
| Residence | - | Moscow, Russia |
| Height | - | 5'8" (175cm) |
| Weight | - | 139lbs (63kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | - | 2012 |
| Coach | Gerard Solves | Sergei Demekhine (2012–), Vladimír Pláteník (2021–2023),, Dmitry Tursunov (2023) |
| YTD W/L | 24-19 (56%) | 32-18 (64%) |
| YTD Titles | - | - |
| Career Titles | 7 ITF | 2 |
| Prize Money | US$ 3,735,835 | US$ 8,887,906 |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
V Kudermetova d V Gracheva WTA Monastir - Round of 326-1 | 6-0 4 Oct 2022 |
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|
V Kudermetova d V Gracheva Australian Open - Round of 645-7 | 6-2 | 6-2 10 Feb 2021 |
||
Coco Gauff vs Jasmine Paolini
Jasmine Paolini and Coco Gauff both head into the Round of 16 having shown strong form in the opening rounds. Paolini has impressed with victories over Maria Sakkari, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5), and Ashlyn Krueger, 7-6 (2) 6-1, before blitzing past Barbora Krejcikova 6-1, 6-2 to secure her place in the last 16.
On the other hand, Gauff has cruised through her matches, defeating Xinyu Wang 6-3, 6-2 and Lucia Bronzetti 6-2, 6-4, with a walkover against Dayana Yastremska giving her additional rest.
Their head-to-head history suggests a tightly contested clash: the pair are tied 2-2, with Paolini winning their most recent meetings in Rome and Stuttgart this year, both in straight sets. However, both wins came on clay, and Gauff could take heart from her success at this very tournament two years ago, when she defeated Paolini 6–3, 6–2 in the quarter-finals, she may hope history can repeat itself.
Paolini’s experience at 29, combined with her ability to neutralize Gauff’s power with precise shot-making, will be tested against Gauff’s athleticism and aggressive baseline game. Expect a battle of contrasting styles, where Paolini’s tactical consistency meets Gauff’s explosive play.
Match Info:
Jasmine Paolini - Coco Gauff
Start time (local): Fri, 15 Aug, 8:30 PM
Start time (your time): Sat, 16 Aug, 8:30 AM
Court: P&G Center Court
Tournament: Cincinnati Open
Round: Quarterfinal
Head-to-Head
| Paolini | Gauff | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 2 | 2 |
| Win Streak | 2 | 0 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 9 | 2 |
| Race Ranking | 9 | 3 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 9 | 2 |
| Live Race Ranking | 9 | 3 |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 29 (4 Jan 1996) | 21 (13 Mar 2004) |
| Birthplace | Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Tuscany, Italy | Atlanta, Georgia, US |
| Residence | Bagni di Lucca, Tuscany, Italy | Delray Beach, Florida, US |
| Height | 5'2" (160cm) | 5'8" (175cm) |
| Weight | 117lbs (53kg) | 121lbs (55kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2011 | 2018 |
| Coach | Renzo Furlan (until 2025) - Marc López (Apr-Jul 2025) - Federico Gaio (Jun 2025-ongoing | Jean-Christophe Faurel (2023–present), Matt Daly (2024–present) |
| YTD W/L | 28-13 (68%) | 33-11 (75%) |
| YTD Titles | 1 | 2 |
| Career Titles | 3 | 10 |
| Prize Money | US$ 11,753,175 | US $27,204,216 - 12th in all-time rankings |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
J Paolini d C Gauff WTA Rome - Final6-4 | 6-2 17 May 2025 |
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J Paolini d C Gauff WTA Stuttgart - Quarterfinal6-4 | 6-3 19 Apr 2025 |
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C Gauff d J Paolini WTA Cincinnati - Quarterfinal6-3 | 6-2 18 Aug 2023 |
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C Gauff d J Paolini WTA Adelaide 1 - Round of 326-4 | 6-7 | 6-2 23 Feb 2021 |
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Looking ahead to the semifinals, the draw promises some mouth-watering clashes. Aryna Sabalenka could face either Iga Swiatek or Anastasia Kalinskaya, while Coco Gauff is likely to meet either Varvara Gracheva or Veronika Kudermetova if they all advance. These potential matchups pit powerful baseline games against crafty shot-makers, setting the stage for high-intensity battles as the tournament heads into its final stages. With so much talent on display, fans can expect drama, upsets, and thrilling tennis right up to the last point.
Sean Killen is a contributing journalist for both DartsNews.com and Tennisuptodate.com, where he balances his university studies with writing news updates, player features, and match reports across both sports.
Before joining the sites, Sean built experience across student and professional media. He serves as TV News Director for Cardiff University TV (CUTV), has reported for Gair Rhydd and The Cardiff Times, and produced viral news coverage that gained international attention. His reporting spans sports, breaking news, and human-interest features, and he’s worked across platforms including print, online, radio, and video.
Sean has followed the ATP and WTA tennis tours closely for years, with a growing interest in darts through the Premier League and World Championship circuits. He brings a sharp eye for storytelling, a commitment to accuracy, and a passion for making niche sports accessible to wider audiences.
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