The 2026 Cincinnati Open reaches semifinal Saturday as World No. 3 Jessica Pegula faces defending champion and World No. 5 Iga Swiatek, while Coco Gauff meets unseeded surprise Sara Bejlek for a place in the Sunday evening trophy match.
Pegula and Swiatek Renew Rivalry on Hard Courts
World No. 3 Jessica Pegula encounters defending champion and World No. 5 Iga Swiatek for the 13th time on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes Benz, with Swiatek leading their head-to-head record 7-5. Swiatek won their last meeting 6-1, 6-2 at the 2026 Rome quarterfinals, while Pegula took their last hard-court clash 6-2, 6-4 at the 2024 US Open quarterfinals. Pegula advanced to her seventh semifinal of the season following tight third-set victories over Sorana Cirstea and Amanda Anisimova, where she overcame a nervy second-set physical tweak against Anisimova.
“I would describe myself as pretty strategic and someone that’s always open to learning and getting better,” Pegula said Thursday. “I think I’m a great ball striker. I’ve only gotten better, even this year I’ve improved on so many things.”
Swiatek enters the semifinal following a title last week in Toronto and a quarterfinal win where opponent Elena Rybakina retired with a left ankle injury. Swiatek has lost four of five hard-court meetings against Pegula, but brings strong momentum into the match.
“Jessie looks different than me on the court, but she has a great feeling and great ability to predict where the opponents are going to play,” Swiatek said Thursday. “So the ball is really hard coming from her racquet and tricky. For sure, it’s going to be a challenge.”
Gauff Contends With Unseeded Bejlek in Night Session
Coco Gauff and unseeded Sara Bejlek begin the night session on Stadium Court following Gauff’s dominant run through the draw, dropping just two sets in her last two tournaments. Gauff handled Kostyuk, who’s reached back to back Grand Slam semifinals, to secure her second straight semifinal following a strong run to a title.
Bejlek enters as the underdog story of the Cincinnati Open and stands as the last seeded player remaining after defeating a former No. 1 in Karolina Pliskova, current No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, and additonal Grand Slam champions in Madison Keys and Barbora Krejcikova. Bejlek relies on a lofted ball style and excellent footwork to disrupt opponents on the Ohio hard courts.
“I just keep believing and my team was helping me a lot today mentally,” Bejlek said Friday. “I was just trying to focus on myself, no matter what is going on the other side of the court.”
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 Cincinnati Open singles final?
The singles final takes place Sunday evening following the semifinal matches on Saturday.
Who leads the head-to-head record between Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek?
Iga Swiatek leads their overall head-to-head record 7-5 on the WTA Tour.
Who has Sara Bejlek defeated en route to the Cincinnati semifinals?
Bejlek has beaten Karolina Pliskova, Aryna Sabalenka, Madison Keys, and Barbora Krejcikova during her run.