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Belinda Bencic retired against Lois Boisson, Emma Navarro fell to Anhelina Kalinina, and Jelena Ostapenko was beaten 6-2, 7-5 by Magdalena Frech in a drama-filled Cincinnati Open women’s round of 64. Jessica Pegula and Linda Noskova both needed three sets to advance. Peyton Stearns and Kamilla Rakhimova produced notable upsets, while the Sabalenka-Rybakina world number one battle looms large as both are yet to play.
Mason, Ohio: If the men’s draw threw up its seismic shock with Novak Djokovic’s defeat on the same afternoon, the women’s round of 64 delivered its own storylines — injury, multiple three-set battles, and two seeded casualties that will reshape the draw considerably heading into the round of 32. With defending champion Iga Swiatek, world number one Aryna Sabalenka, and Cincinnati title-holder Elena Rybakina all yet to play their openers, the field remains top-heavy — but the day’s results were a timely reminder that the road to the final will be paved with three-setters.
Bencic’s Day Ends Early
The most significant development of the day came on the P&G Stadium Court, where 12th seed Belinda Bencic — the Swiss former world number four making her push through the hard-court swing — was forced to retire against French wildcard Lois Boisson after losing the first set 6-3 and falling 6-2 down in the second. Boisson, playing on a home-crowd wildcard, advances to the round of 32 in what will rank among the biggest results of her career. The nature of Bencic’s injury was not immediately confirmed, but the Swiss camp indicated it was a precautionary withdrawal.
Ostapenko and Navarro Exit
The draw lost two more seeded players before the day was done. Jelena Ostapenko, the 26th seed and 2017 French Open champion, was never allowed to settle by a disciplined Magdalena Frech, who constructed a composed 6-2, 7-5 victory that was based on consistent depth and smart court positioning. Ostapenko’s trademark flat aggression found no purchase against the Pole, who moves into the round of 32 as one of the more dangerous unseeded floaters remaining.
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The more surprising result, however, came from Emma Navarro’s section. The 25th seed — one of the American home hopes and a player in strong form coming into Ohio — lost 6-4, 4-6, 2-6 to Anhelina Kalinina in a match that turned decisively in the Ukrainian’s favour after a competitive second set. Kalinina, aggressive and consistent from the baseline, was the better player across the deciding set and fully merited her win.
Seeds Fight, Seeds Survive
Elsewhere, the day was defined by seeds having to work considerably harder than their rankings suggested. Third seed Jessica Pegula — the 2024 Cincinnati finalist — dropped the first set 5-7 to Simona Waltert before recovering to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 in a match that required nearly two hours to resolve. Pegula, the 2024 US Open finalist, regrouped superbly after the first-set loss, her serve and return game lifting significantly in the second and third sets.
Sixth seed Linda Noskova was similarly tested, dropping the second set entirely to Katie Boulter before prevailing 7-5, 0-6, 6-4 in a match that swung sharply in the Briton’s favour for a full set before Noskova reasserted herself. The Czech remains one of the most dangerous ball-strikers in the draw, but this was not a comfortable afternoon.
Sorana Cirstea (15) also needed three sets, edging out Nikola Bartunkova 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a match that tested the Romanian’s resilience before her experience told in the third. Diana Shnaider (14) was considerably more emphatic — dispatching Tatjana Maria 6-1, 6-2 in a dominant display that underlined why the Russian is among the more feared players on the hard-court surface this season.
American Bright Spots
With Navarro’s defeat, the home crowd needed something to cheer — and Peyton Stearns provided it, beating 27th seed Clara Tauson 6-1, 7-6(6) in a result that showcased the American’s flat, aggressive game at its best. Stearns barely gave Tauson a foothold in the first set before surviving a tighter second to advance comfortably.
Anna Kalinskaya (18) was equally impressive against Catherine McNally, winning 6-3, 6-4 in a match that was closer on paper than in practice, while Maja Chwalinska (19) beat Cristina Bucsa 6-1, 7-5 and Alexandra Eala (17) was leading Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-1, 3-0 when the Romanian retired. Kamilla Rakhimova produced the day’s other notable result in the lower draw, beating 29th seed Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-2 in clinical fashion.
Elise Mertens (21) navigated a tight encounter against Diane Parry, eventually winning 6-4, 7-6(7) in straight sets that were more competitive than expected, while Daria Kasatkina accounted for Zeynep Sonmez 6-2, 6-7(4), 3-6 in a three-setter — though Sonmez ultimately prevailed in the deciding set, meaning Kasatkina fell. Anisimova (9) had a bye and did not play.
The Bigger Picture
The women’s draw carries an additional subplot beyond mere results. Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina are in contention for the WTA world number one ranking, with Rybakina needing to reach the final to have any chance at the top spot. Neither has played yet in the main draw, making their upcoming matches critical not just for points but for the ranking battle that has defined the second half of the women’s season.
With Bencic, Ostapenko, and Navarro all gone on day one of the main draw, the bracket has taken its first shape — and the paths to the quarterfinals in several sections now look considerably more open than they did 24 hours ago.
Key Women’s Round of 64 Results — Cincinnati Open 2026
Jessica Pegula (3) def. Simona Waltert — 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
Linda Noskova (6) def. Katie Boulter — 7-5, 0-6, 6-4
Daria Kasatkina def. Zeynep Sonmez — 6-2, 6-7(4), 3-6 (Sonmez won)
Anhelina Kalinina def. Emma Navarro (25) — 6-4, 4-6, 2-6 (Kalinina won)
Lois Boisson def. Belinda Bencic (12) — 6-3, 6-2 ret.
Diana Shnaider (14) def. Tatjana Maria — 6-1, 6-2
Sorana Cirstea (15) def. Nikola Bartunkova — 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
Alexandra Eala (17) def. Elena-Gabriela Ruse — 6-1, 3-0 ret.
Anna Kalinskaya (18) def. Catherine McNally — 6-3, 6-4
Maja Chwalinska (19) def. Cristina Bucsa — 6-1, 7-5
Elise Mertens (21) def. Diane Parry — 6-4, 7-6(7)
Magdalena Frech def. Jelena Ostapenko (26) — 6-2, 7-5
Peyton Stearns def. Clara Tauson (27) — 6-1, 7-6(6)
Kamilla Rakhimova def. Maria Sakkari (29) — 6-2, 6-2
