World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka suffered a stunning upset at the Cincinnati Open, bowing out in straight sets to Czech teenager Sara Bejlek.
The unseeded 35th‑ranked Bejlek, a 20‑year‑old from Znojmo, outlasted the four‑time Grand Slam champion 7‑6(7), 6‑4 in a match that lasted just under two hours, securing her place in the quarter‑finals of the WTA 1000 tournament. Bejlek displayed remarkable resilience, clawing back from a 5‑1 deficit in the first‑set tiebreak before turning the tables in the second set, where she recovered from a 4‑1 hole to close out her first ever win over a top‑10 opponent.
After the victory, the young Czech was visibly overwhelmed. "I feel incredible.
I lost totally my words," she told the crowd, adding that her belief in herself had been the decisive factor. Sabalenka's early exit opens the door for Elena Rybakina to overtake the top spot in the world rankings, provided the Kazakhstani reaches the Cincinnati final. The result also reshapes the women's draw, with Bejlek set to meet former world No. 4 Madison Keys in the quarter‑finals.
On the men's side, the tournament delivered its own drama. Tommy Paul saved a match point and then turned the tide against top seed Alexander Zverev, winning 4‑6, 7‑6(6), 6‑4 after a nearly 90‑minute rain delay.
Zverov had taken the opening set and was ahead 3‑4 in the second before play was suspended. When the match resumed, Paul appeared sharper, neutralising Zverev’s rhythm and eventually forcing a decisive break in the third set. After taking a 4‑2 lead, Zverev could not recover, and Paul surged ahead, winning four consecutive games to claim his first quarter‑final berth at the Cincinnati Open. He will now face Italy’s Flavio Cobolli.
American prodigy Coco Gauff continued her impressive run, cruising past 22nd‑seeded Czech Marie Bouzkova 6‑3, 6‑2 in just one hour and 33 minutes. Gauff’s dominant performance sets up a clash with Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk for a spot in the semi‑finals. Gauff, the fourth seed, has been in scintillating form throughout the event, displaying a blend of power and precision that has left opponents scrambling. Further down the draw, Frances Tiafoe produced one of the most composed displays of his season, upsetting second seed Félix Auger‑Aliassime 6‑4, 6‑4.
The 28‑year‑old American’s victory marks his second Masters 1000 quarter‑final of the year, following a similar achievement in Miami, and represents the first time he has reached multiple quarter‑finals at this level in a single season. Tiafoe will now meet Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, who dispatched Jaime Faria 7‑5, 6‑2 in a 75‑minute encounter. French youngster Arthur Fils also left his mark, beating fifth seed Alex de Minaur 6‑3, 6‑4 to move deeper into the tournament.
Meanwhile, the highest‑ranked American man remaining, Taylor Fritz, secured a straight‑sets win over Australian Christopher O'Connell, 6‑4, 6‑3, reinforcing his status as a contender. In a historic moment for Argentine tennis, Thiago Tirante, who stunned Novak Djokovic in the second round, became the first Argentine to reach the Cincinnati quarter‑finals since Juan Martín del Potro’s run in 2018. Tirante edged Czech Jakub Mensik 5‑7, 6‑4, 6‑4, showcasing his tenacity and tactical acumen. The Cincinnati Open continues to provide a thrilling mix of upsets, breakthrough performances, and high‑stakes battles as players vie for valuable points ahead of the US Open.
Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports, with additional streaming options available through NOW. The tournament’s schedule also includes upcoming matches, daily scores, and a look ahead to the US Open, which begins on August 30 and will also be broadcast on Sky Sports. Overall, the week has highlighted the depth of talent across both tours.
Sabalenka’s early departure underscores how quickly fortunes can change in tennis, while emerging stars like Bejlek and Tirante demonstrate the sport’s global reach and the emergence of new contenders. As the quarter‑finals unfold, the narrative will shift toward who can sustain momentum and claim the coveted titles in both the WTA and ATP draws.