Gauff storms into Cincinnati Open semis; Bejlek stuns Keys to set clash
Synopsis
Coco Gauff cruised into the Cincinnati Open semifinals with a clinical 6-2, 6-2 win, but the bigger story is Sara Bejlek — a qualifier who has now beaten four WTA 1000 champions in a single draw, only the second player since 2009 to do so. Their semifinal clash is the match of the tournament.
Key Takeaways
Coco Gauff defeated Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-2 to reach the Cincinnati Open semifinals on 22 August .
Gauff is the fourth Open Era player to reach multiple Cincinnati semifinals before age 23 , joining Tuero, Zvonareva, and Goolagong.
Sara Bejlek came back from a set and 4-2 down in the tiebreak to beat Madison Keys 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) .
Bejlek has beaten four WTA 1000 champions — Pliskova, Krejcikova, Sabalenka, and Keys — in the same draw, only the second player since 2009 to do so.
Gauff has dropped just two sets across her last two tournaments; Bejlek has won five consecutive matches at Cincinnati.
Coco Gauff, the No. 4 seed, powered past No. 10 seed Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-2 on 22 August to advance to the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open, where she will face a red-hot Sara Bejlek, who came from behind to eliminate former Australian Open champion Madison Keys 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5).
Gauff's Dominant Run
The victory extended Gauff's head-to-head record against Kostyuk to 4-2 on the WTA Tour. The American dispatched Kostyuk — a player who has reached back-to-back Grand Slam semifinals — with striking ease, dropping just two sets across her last two tournaments combined.
Notably, Gauff becomes only the fourth player in the Open Era to reach multiple Cincinnati Open semifinals before turning 23, joining Linda Tuero, Vera Zvonareva, and Evonne Goolagong in that exclusive company. The run follows a strong title charge — her fifth of the season — and comes on the back of a tough second-round battle against Liudmila Samsonova, since which Gauff has been in commanding form.
Her all-court game, diverse shot selection, and superior court coverage make her a formidable opponent for Bejlek's lofted, high-bouncing style.
Bejlek's Stunning Comeback
Sara Bejlek produced one of the most dramatic wins of the tournament, recovering from a set down and 4-2 down in the deciding third-set tiebreak to beat Keys. The Czech qualifier has now strung together five consecutive wins at Cincinnati, knocking out four seeds and a former World No. 1 along the way.
Her path to the last four has included victories over compatriots Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Krejcikova, current World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, and Keys — all former WTA 1000 champions. According to available records, Bejlek is only the second player since 2009 to defeat four such players en route to a WTA 1000 semifinal, after Pliskova achieved the same feat in Madrid eight years ago.
Context and Background
Bejlek first announced herself on the WTA Tour when she stormed to her maiden title as a qualifier at the Abu Dhabi Open in February. However, she had not won more than two consecutive matches on tour since that breakthrough — until this week in Cincinnati, where she has rediscovered that qualifier's fearlessness at a far bigger stage.
This is the second straight Cincinnati semifinal for Gauff, who enters the match as the clear favourite on form and ranking. All eyes will be on whether Bejlek's giant-killing run can extend to one of the tour's brightest young stars.
What's Next
The Gauff–Bejlek semifinal sets up as one of the most intriguing matches of the tournament: a title contender in peak form against a qualifier who has made a habit of upsetting the odds. The winner will advance to the Cincinnati Open final.
Point of View
Keys, Pliskova, Krejcikova — all fell to a player who had not won three straight matches on tour since February. The Gauff–Bejlek semifinal will reveal whether Bejlek's run is a genuine breakthrough or a hot week against opponents who underestimated her. Either way, the WTA has a compelling new name to watch.
NationPress
22 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of Gauff vs Kostyuk at the Cincinnati Open?
Coco Gauff defeated Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the Cincinnati Open semifinals on 22 August. Gauff now leads their head-to-head 4-2 on the WTA Tour.
Who is Sara Bejlek and why is her Cincinnati run significant?
Sara Bejlek is a Czech tennis player who won her first WTA title as a qualifier at the Abu Dhabi Open in February. At Cincinnati, she has beaten four former WTA 1000 champions — Pliskova, Krejcikova, Sabalenka, and Keys — making her only the second player since 2009 to achieve that feat in a single WTA 1000 draw.
How did Bejlek beat Madison Keys?
Bejlek came from a set down and 4-2 down in the third-set tiebreak to defeat Keys 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5). It was one of the most dramatic comebacks of the Cincinnati tournament.
What historic milestone did Gauff reach at Cincinnati?
Gauff became the fourth player in the Open Era to reach multiple Cincinnati Open semifinals before turning 23, joining Linda Tuero, Vera Zvonareva, and Evonne Goolagong.
Who will Gauff play in the Cincinnati Open semifinals?
Gauff will face Sara Bejlek in the semifinals. Gauff enters as the higher-ranked and in-form favourite, having dropped just two sets across her last two tournaments.
